Ho Central Market cries for attention

Every big market in the country has its own challenges, but in a situation where the challenges threaten lives and property, it may require special attention. Across the world, markets have played instrumental roles in boosting the economies of nations.

The backbone of Ghana’s economy has been agriculture. However, since we do not export most of our produce, a chunk of it end up in our local markets.

The markets are also a source of revenue for the local assemblies through the collection of daily taxes and levies.

The Ho Central Market is no doubt one of the biggest in the country. It serves as a source of livelihood for many communities in the Volta Region.

Every fifth day in a week is a market day at the central market and traders from farming and fishing communities such as Adidome, Tsito- Awudome, Kpedze, Abutia, Keta Krachi and its surrounding towns, such as Hohoe, Keta, Aflao, Dambai and certain towns in the Eastern Region and even in neighbouring Togo patronise the market with their goods such as corn, beans, fish, charcoal and cloths, among other merchandise.

Despite this huge patronage, the Ho Central Market does not have the best of infrastructure. The reconstruction of the market has, therefore, become a matter of critical concern over the years as far as fencing is concerned.

Reconstruction of market 

Reconstruction works on the market, under the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project (GUMPP), was expected to start in May 2012 after President John Dramani Mahama, then Vice-President, had cut the sod for the commencement of work on the project.

The GUMPP programme is an urban management and development initiative to be implemented in Tamale, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and the Ho municipality.

Under this programme, the market is to be pulled down for re-construction.

It was reported that a GH¢8.5 million grant from France was ready for building a new market when a team from France visited the market to access the level of congestion during market days.

My tour 

A personal tour of the market to ascertain how far plans for the modern market had advanced after two years of waiting led to more insights on how the market has degenerated over the years instead of the planned facelift.

The assistant queen of the market, Mrs Christine Dakey, welcomed me when I approached her during my visit and took me round the market to see things for myself.

Madam Dakey said ‘my dear, nothing has changed since I started trading in this market over 20 years ago. The structures as you can see remain the same’.

In fact, there was no sign that works would be starting any time soon.

The market could qualify for a typical slum as traders have erected many structures haphazardly blocking the access routes to the market without taking into consideration the layout of the market or what could happen should there be a fire outbreak.

The issue looks worrying considering the rate at which fire has destroyed properties in our markets lately.

For several years, the traders in the Ho Central Market have not experienced any major fire outbreak and as such they are not too conscious about issues of fire and safety. 

It is common to see people cooking in their stores or open places with some near electric poles.

Meanwhile, there was no single fire extinguisher in the market for swift action in the event of any eventuality, especially when a fire station was also not in view.

Unauthorised structures 

The unauthorised structures are springing up very fast because of the delay in the construction of the market.

There is no warehouse for traders to keep their goods safely under lock and key. 

The traders, who come from remote villages, have to carry their unsold goods back to their various villages or risk having them stolen since there are not enough security personnel to watch over them. 

The three night security guards provided by the Ho Municipal Assembly are woefully inadequate for the large market spanning about 12.083 acres with several unapproved entrance and exit points.

This has compelled some traders (especially those who sell foodstuffs and cannot carry them back home) to wrap their goods in jute sacks and leave them in the open, exposing them to the vagaries of the weather.

More often some of the goods get stolen.

Some of the traders, especially those who deal in goods such as mother care products, shoes, bags, cooking utensils, groceries, as a means of securing their wares have managed to get themselves containers without authorisation from the Ho Municipal Assembly thus causing further congestion.

The assembly has therefore asked them to remove the unauthorised structures since it will not be liable in the event of any eventuality.

However, Madam Emefa, who deals in groceries and occupies one of the unauthorised containers, explained that they needed to take bold steps regardless of the consequences because she could not carry her goods to the house and bring them back the next day. 

Also she needed to protect her goods from burglars. 

‘We go for loans to do this petty trading. How are we going to pay for the loans, if we do not protect our goods and they are stolen’ she asked. 

Mrs Dakey, the queen, stated that they needed electricity in the market for comfort as temperatures in the containers get unbearable in the afternoons. 

Using a piece of paper to fan herself, “Miss” as she is affectionately called, said they refused to ‘give us electricity because they said they had not given us authority to put up these structures’. 

But the assembly feared that if electrical gadgets were not handled properly, it could lead to a major fire outbreak.

Dilapidated structures

The sheds provided for them over the years by the assembly leaked profusely that most of them had resorted to using cartons to cover the leaking parts when it rains.

The chief of the Zabrama group in the market, Alhaji Munkala, said many of the traders had lost their fortunes as a result of the destruction of goods by the rain, especially at night.

Pointing to the dilapidated structures, Mrs Darkey said, “my dear take this picture, this one too and the other one there. Show this to the whole world. I don’t think a village market will even look like this,” she lamented.

'We need a modern market that befits the status of a regional market.' she said. 

The assembly is said to have held a meeting with traders and promised that by the end of April, they would start with the reconstruction works.

‘We are patient for now but we will not wait for the year to end to embark on a massive demonstration if nothing was done’, the queen threatened.

Stalls abandoned for the streets

Most traders who were allocated stalls and sheds within the market have abandoned them and have taken to the walkways and the streets causing heavy human and vehicular traffic on the streets.

A few people described the sheds and stalls as 'bathrooms’ because of their sizes and explained that they were positioned too far from the busy part of the market.

Currently, the abandoned stalls have become resting places for idle hands, drug peddlers and smokers, as well as thieves who lurk around for the least opportunity to prey on their victims.

Mrs Dakey said they requested a police station or post to protect them from these criminals who attacked them and stole their money but to no avail.

The market queen said she had transferred this issue from the assembly to the regional police commander but nothing seemed to have been done about their plight.

Better Sanitation

The sanitation situation looked better unlike some few years ago when there was no toilet facility and people defecated in empty shades in the market.

Currently, there is a modern toilet facility and also Zoomlion provides the market with waste containers where they dispose of their waste. However, there are few areas that have been used as refuse dump creating heaps of rubbish. 

Banking 

Unlike Accra and other big cities where it is common to see several banks competing for spaces in the market, the story at the Ho Central Market is different.

Despite the economic activities that take place in the market, it is interesting to note that there is only one bank, Unity Rural Bank, operating in the whole market.

The long queues at the bank spoke volumes of the kind of frustration people had to go through to withdraw or deposit money.

The situation does not encourage the habit of saving. Some said they could not leave their goods to queue just to deposit money. They preferred to keep them at home so they could have easy access to their funds when the need arose. 

The Assembly’s Reaction 

The GUMPP assistant co-ordinator at the assembly, Mr Sylvanus Plahar, disclosed that paper works were almost done and that money was yet to be released to the assembly to commence work.

He gave the assurance that very soon, they would advertise the contract for bidders and by the end of July ,people were going to see physical structures.

He admitted that the assembly was aware of all the challenges and that the issues would be tackled holistically with the new facility in place. 

The nagging question now is, when at all is the France-funded project going to start as authorities keep shifting dates without any satisfactory reasons for the delay in reconstructing the Ho Central Market.