BY Issah Olegor
More than 3,000 traders at the Holy Garden Market near the Circle Police Station in Accra are facing an uncertain future following reports of an impending eviction.
The development has sparked anger and fear among the affected vendors, who say their livelihoods and the survival of their families are at stake.
On Thursday, the Concerned Traders of Holy Garden Market held a press conference to raise alarm over what they describe as a deliberate plan to displace them.
According to the traders, attempts are underway to force them out of their long-standing trading hub in favor of private business interests.
“We are not just fighting for our shops, we are fighting for the future of our families,” one spokesperson told reporters.
“Thousands of us depend on this market to feed our children and keep a roof over our heads.”
Accusations Against A Chinese Businessman
The traders point fingers at a Chinese national whom they accuse of engineering the eviction.
They claim he has leveraged political connections to expand his business interests in the area.
According to their account, the businessman first arrived in Ghana in 2012 as a small bus operator with just two vehicles.
Over the years, he has grown his operations to include a large transport fleet, retail shops, and trading activities in and around the Circle enclave.
Now, they allege, he is acquiring large portions of land around the market with the aim of monopolizing commercial activities.
“He is no longer just into transport. He has taken over trading spaces, constructed shops, and is still expanding. His ambition now threatens to push us out completely,” one angry trader alleged.
Historical Importance of the Market
The Holy Garden Market, situated close to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, has for decades served as one of the busiest commercial hubs in Accra.
It accommodates foodstuff sellers, spare parts dealers, clothing vendors, and small-scale shop owners.
Many of the traders have been there for years, some even inheriting their spots from parents and grandparents.
Previous attempts to restructure or relocate traders around Circle have often sparked fierce resistance.
In 2015, during the government’s “decongestion exercises,” clashes broke out between hawkers and city authorities.
Many traders argue that evictions are usually carried out without alternative arrangements, leaving families stranded.
Call For Government Intervention
The Concerned Traders group is now appealing to the Ministry of Local Government, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), and the Office of the President to intervene.
They maintain that the market is a public trading space and should not be ceded to private ownership.
“This is not only about land. It is about fairness and the survival of thousands of families. We want the government to step in and protect us,” the traders said in a joint statement.
Businessman Yet To Respond
Efforts by journalists to contact the accused businessman for his side of the story have so far been unsuccessful.
