BY Grace Zigah
Tensions have escalated at the Ashaiman Main Market as traders staged protests against the government’s proposed redevelopment of the congested facility into a modern 24-hour market.
The traders insist that the plan, if implemented without adequate consultation, risks displacing thousands of small businesses and disrupting livelihoods.
The Ashaiman Main Market, a central hub for local trade, has long been plagued by overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and poor infrastructure. In response, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly recently announced plans to transform the market under a broader agenda of market modernization, a promise tied to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 general elections.
However, many traders say the government has failed to clearly outline how the redevelopment will affect existing stall owners. Speaking at the protest, a trader appealed directly to authorities:
“All we want is for the government to renovate the market and provide basic utilities. Demolishing it would destroy our means of survival. We have children to feed, and we cannot relocate easily. Please, we need renovation, not displacement.”
Other traders cited similar projects elsewhere, such as the redevelopment of the old Mandela Market, where newly built shops remain largely unused because traders cannot afford them.
One plantain seller explained:
“Building stores won’t help us. Our goods spoil if we can’t store them properly. Renovating the current market is the only practical solution.”
Leticia Ayaba, the Ashaiman Market Queen Mother, emphasized that the lack of meaningful consultation has heightened anxiety among traders.
She noted that while market leaders had previously met with the District Chief Executive (DCE) to discuss concerns, no tangible engagement followed.
“Traders feel ignored. This is why they are taking to the streets—to demand clarity about their future and protect their livelihoods,” Ayaba said.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Freeman Tsekpo, sought to calm fears, assuring that the redevelopment would be fully funded by the government and not handed over to private developers.
He emphasized that no trader would be displaced permanently and that temporary alternative trading spaces would be provided during construction.
“The market is a state facility. Current traders will continue selling here after redevelopment. We will collect data to ensure everyone is placed back in their rightful positions,” Tsekpo said.
The proposed plan envisions a modern, 24-hour market equipped with improved sanitation, utilities, and infrastructure aimed at enhancing trade efficiency.
Yet, traders maintain that renovation of existing facilities would achieve these goals without risking displacement or creating financial barriers.
