The General Secretary for the Traders Advocacy Group Ghana, Nana Poku, has urged the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and government to reconsider plans to relocate Agbogbloshie market women without adequate consultation and infrastructure. He argued that the 24-hour economy policy represents a wider economic framework whose success depends on how its various components are designed and implemented.
Mr Poku explained that operating markets around the clock requires suitable facilities, security, access and organised shifts for traders. According to him, the policy should therefore focus on creating conditions that allow businesses to operate efficiently instead of treating relocation as the central feature of the programme.
The General Secretary stressed that traders could work through different shifts when the required facilities are available. He illustrated the point with a possible night shift, explaining that one trader could close in the morning while another takes over later in the day.
“If proper infrastructure is put down, why not? I can come to work around 10:00 PM in the night. When I close in the morning, somebody can take over.”
Nana Poku
From his perspective, the proposed market should form part of a carefully developed economic plan that responds to the realities of traders. The policy framework, he added, contains several areas that require detailed attention beyond the question of whether a particular market should operate for 24 hours.
Referencing his earlier engagement with policymakers, Nana Poku recalled that trader representatives participated in discussions during the preparation of the policy manifesto. He mentioned the Vice President, Mr Mensah, the former National Health Insurance Scheme boss and a former Bank of Ghana official among those involved in those engagements.
This experience, he indicated, makes continued engagement with market leaders important as the policy moves into implementation. Traders, in his view, possess practical knowledge of market operations that can help government develop arrangements capable of serving businesses and consumers.
Market Redevelopment Requires Wider Consultation And Local Planning
The proposed redevelopment of markets requires careful assessment of conditions in each trading area, with Nana Poku advocating a location specific approach to government investment. He argued that a single market development model across all 16 regions could overlook differences in population, commercial activity, land availability and existing infrastructure.
Discussing possible locations, the Traders Advocacy Secretary pointed to Techiman as an area where investment in market infrastructure could strengthen commercial activity. He also indicated that some communities possess functioning markets where the priority should be improvement and expansion according to local needs.
Therefore, the allocation of public resources should begin with a clear assessment of where new infrastructure is required. Such planning could help government direct investments towards locations where additional facilities can generate greater commercial value.
“You cannot replicate building market in all the 16 regions, that makes the 24-hour concept a concept to remember.”
Nana Poku
Analysing the situation in Accra, Mr Poku maintained that congestion and limited trading space require practical solutions that bring traders into organised locations. The approach, he suggested, should consider the amount of available land, existing market capacity and the movement of customers before relocation decisions are taken.
The call for consultation also extends to the traders who currently operate within affected communities. Their participation could provide government with information on customer patterns, trading hours, transport arrangements and the types of facilities businesses require.
In addition, the relocation process requires clear communication about who qualifies for space in any new market. Information emerging from discussions with traders indicates that some market women are seeking an explanation of the 24 hour economy concept and an opportunity to engage authorities before major changes occur.
This demand for clarity has become particularly relevant as demolition and redevelopment activities affect existing trading spaces. The traders are seeking assurances about the practical arrangements surrounding relocation, including access to new facilities and the criteria for allocating market spaces.
The wider issue therefore goes beyond the construction of a new market. It involves planning a commercial system that can accommodate existing traders, attract customers, support tax collection and create an organised environment for businesses.
READ ALSO: 24-Hour Economy Must Serve Traders, Not Displace Them — Advocacy Secretary
