The leadership of the Konkomba Yam Market in Accra has appealed to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to reconsider plans to construct a 24-hour economy market on the site of the existing facility.
The market’s leaders say demolishing the facility could disrupt a major food distribution centre and threaten the livelihoods of thousands of traders, workers and other people whose businesses depend on the market.
Speaking to the press, Secretary of the Council of Leadership of the Konkomba Yam Market, Tanyam Anthony, described the market as an important food supply point for Accra and other parts of the country.
He said the facility plays a major role in the distribution of yams to various destinations in Ghana and outside the country, making it an important contributor to employment and economic activity.
“It will interest you to know that this area is a food basket of Accra, which feeds the national capital alongside its neighbouring markets,” Mr Anthony said.
According to him, the market serves as a major point where yams are purchased, transported and exported to different parts of Ghana and international destinations.
Mr Anthony stressed that traders were not against the government’s 24-hour economy initiative, which seeks to expand economic activity and create more employment opportunities.
However, he questioned the decision to establish a new facility at a location that already performs a similar economic function.
He argued that destroying the existing market could undermine an important part of Accra’s food distribution network and create unnecessary hardship for traders.
The market leadership has therefore appealed to the authorities to consider another location for the proposed 24-hour economy market.
Instead, Mr Anthony called for investment in the existing Konkomba Yam Market to improve its operations and make it more suitable for traders and customers.
He specifically appealed for better roads, improved street lighting and stronger security around the market.
The leadership believes such improvements would strengthen the market’s contribution to the economy while allowing traders to continue their businesses without disruption.
The appeal comes as government continues to promote its 24-hour economy agenda as part of efforts to increase economic activity.
