By Issah Olegor
Tension is mounting at the Makola No. 2 Market at Agbogbloshie in Accra after hundreds of traders took to the streets on Thursday, February 26, 2026, to protest what they describe as unbearable financial pressure from escalating rent charges and the introduction of a new 20 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) burden.
The protest, which drew large crowds of market women and men dressed in red, reflected growing frustration among traders who say the cost of doing business in one of the capital’s busiest commercial centres has become unsustainable.
Chanting and marching through sections of the market, the traders accused management and state authorities of imposing policies that threaten their livelihoods in an already difficult economic climate.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, market leader Anthony Kyei Baafi said the situation has reached a breaking point, stressing that traders are being squeezed by multiple charges that continue to rise yearly.
According to him, traders operate under a management structure known as the MMC Management Company, which functions under the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), with oversight from a board of directors.
Despite repeated engagements, he said the concerns of traders have not been adequately addressed.
He explained that traders have held more than three meetings with management this year alone over rent levels, taxes, and Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges, which cover electricity, water, refuse collection, and security.
Over time, rent has been separated from CAM charges, with both now subject to annual increments.
According to the traders, management routinely justifies these increases by pointing to inflation and the depreciation of the cedi, but rarely reduces charges when economic indicators stabilise.
They argue that the burden is now heavier following management’s claim that a newly imposed 20 per cent government tax must be transferred directly to traders.
Traders say the Managing Director of the market, identified as Piah, informed them that the 20 per cent tax placed on the company by the government had to be passed on to them.
This explanation, however, has sparked anger and confusion, with traders questioning the fairness of transferring the full cost of a corporate tax burden directly onto small-scale business operators within such a short period.
Beyond the financial pressure, traders also complained about what they describe as harsh enforcement measures.
They allege that shops are routinely locked when payments are delayed, leaving traders stranded and forcing some to borrow money from relatives and friends just to regain access to their goods.
In some cases, traders say their merchandise remains locked in containers for days, exposing them to the risk of loss through fire outbreaks, theft, or spoilage.
Sanitation conditions in parts of the market were also raised as a serious concern. Protesters described some areas as unhygienic and dangerous to public health, warning that the combination of poor sanitation and rising costs is making daily trading increasingly difficult.
Makola No. 2 Market has long been a pillar of commercial life in Accra, serving as a major trading hub for foodstuffs, textiles, and general goods.
Parts of the market were redeveloped during the tenure of former First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, but traders insist that infrastructure improvements alone cannot address the deeper policy and management challenges confronting them today.
In their protest, the traders directly appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and relevant state institutions to intervene, calling for urgent government action to review rent structures, taxation policies, and management practices at the market.
While insisting they are not opposed to paying legitimate fees and taxes, the traders say they are demanding transparency, fairness, and relief measures that reflect the realities of small-scale trading in the current economic environment.
They warn that without intervention, rising operational costs could force many traders out of business, threatening not only individual livelihoods but the broader commercial ecosystem of Accra’s markets.
