Sell inside Makola Market or lose stalls- Sanka Tetteh

Accra, March 19, GNA- Traders having stalls inside the Makola Market in Accra but rather sell their wares on the streets and pavements would forfeit their allocation.

Apart from helping to decongest the city of hawkers the exercise will facilitate human and vehicular movement.

Mr. Sanka Tetteh, Principal Revenue Superintendent in charge of Markets of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), said these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Wednesday. He advised traders and other operators at the Market to secure the goods and wares in their stalls at the close of the day's activity at six o'clock in the evening and "leave the market by six-thirty to enable the security men to check if gates, doors are properly closed and other security measures."

Mr Sankah Tetteh especially called on chop bar operators and others to put out all fires and switch off all electrical gadgets and equipment to avoid fire outbreak.

He pointed out, however that Makola had not been affected in the recent "market fires."

The AMA Principal Revenue Superintendent in charge of Markets stated, "because they do not close early some of them rush to leave the market in the evening and they forget to put off their lights and other electrical gadgets and other things".

Mr Sankah Tetteh said the security men would strictly enforce rules and regulations at the market and warned that anyone found in the facility after closing would be dealt with according to AMA by-laws. He said traders who flouted AMA rules and by-laws on the operations of the Market would face sanctions in the form of suspension from operating for a period and advised the women to avoid quarrels to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.

Madam Mercy Nee Djan, Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the Market Women's Association, noted that to ensure maximum security at the Market, no goods should be delivered and discharged inside the market after closing of business.

"No one should enter the Market after closing at six-thirty," she said adding that there should be "Regular reshuffling of the security men."