The usually noisy markets in Accra yesterday turned into what may be described as graveyards, as the Daily Statesman visited some of them to monitor the fumigation exercise conducted at over 130 major markets in the Greater Accra Region.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, announced last Friday that, in line with the efforts put in place to combat the deadly coronavirus pandemic, markets in the Greater Accra Region would be closed down to allow the fumigation exercise.
Checks by the Daily Statesman in some of the markets revealed that all wholesale and retail shops were shut down in compliance with the Minister’s directive.
At Makola Market, for instance, all traders heeded to the directive to close their shops to allow the exercise to be conducted, with very limited human movements around.
About 1,300 sprayers were deployed across all the 137 targeted markets in the region. Veronica buckets and soap are expected to be made available at the major entrances and vantage points of each market.
Compliance
The Daily Statesman observed that traders had neatly covered their wares, in anticipation of yesterday’s exercise. A couple of errant market women who showed up were arrested.
The closure of the markets affected other ancillary businesses within Accra and its environs, such as commercial transport.
One of the officials of Ayawaso Central Municipality, Naa Adoley Moffat, who was present at Mallam Atta Market, had to sack squatters and some market women who had come to offload their goods at the market, although the exercise was yet to begin at the time.
At some of the markets, the main entrances had been put under lock and key to prevent traders from accessing them.
Low transport patronage
Most commercial drivers in Accra had to resort to loading their vehicles along the edges of the road due to the closure of transport stations within the markets.
Some of the drivers, who spoke with this paper, lamented that the exercise would negatively affect their businesses as most of their regular passengers had to find other means of transportation to their various locations.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government says the disinfection exercise will be extended to other parts of the country this week.
Source: Daily Statesman
