The Greater Accra Regional Minister has held a high-level stakeholder meeting with leaders and members of the 31st December Makola Market Women’s Association to address recent agitations and public demonstrations by traders in the iconic market.
The engagement, convened on Thursday, aimed to provide a platform for market women to articulate their grievances, identify underlying causes, and collaboratively develop lasting solutions. Videos of the protests, which circulated widely on social media, highlighted concerns over infrastructure deficits and congestion within the market.
In a statement issued following the meeting, the Regional Minister reaffirmed the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council’s (GARCC) strong commitment to the welfare of the market women, describing them as the backbone of the local economy whose stability is essential for regional peace and prosperity.
“I hold our market women in the highest esteem; they are the undeniable backbone of our local economy and their peace of mind is paramount to regional stability,” the Minister said.
To tackle the recurring challenges of inadequate infrastructure and overcrowding, the current administration is advancing the 24-Hour Economy Market initiative. This strategic investment seeks to develop additional ultra-modern market facilities capable of supporting expanded trading activities, including round-the-clock operations, thereby accommodating more traders and reducing pressure on existing spaces.
The Minister assured stakeholders that comprehensive structural measures are being implemented expeditiously to resolve specific bottlenecks identified during the dialogue. These interventions are designed to deliver permanent solutions, minimise future disputes, and restore lasting peace and order in the Makola market enclave.
The Regional Minister called on all parties to exercise restraint and maintain calm while the planned interventions are executed. “Together, we will build a more resilient, equitable and prosperous trading environment for all,” the statement concluded.
The engagement underscores the regional administration’s proactive approach to stakeholder dialogue and infrastructure-led economic development in Ghana’s commercial heartland.
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