Governement approves reconstruction of 13 markets

The government has given approval for the reconstruction of 13 markets in Accra. It is part of efforts to modernise the markets to improve their conditions for effective trading. Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Mayor of Accra who disclosed this said the beneficiary markets include the Salaga, Kasoa Junction, Mallam, London, Mallam Atta and Thursday markets. He made the announcement when the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre ( MASLOC) presented a financial support of GHC430,700 to 303 traders at the Makola Number Two Market in Accra who suffered from a market fire outbreak last March. According to the Mayor, the designs for the market modernisation projects were being prepared for the start of the project, explaining that various facilities such as sanitary, drainage and access lanes, would be provided. Dr Vanderpuije, assured the traders of the commitment of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to ensure the successful implementation of the project to upgrade the markets in the capital, and expressed optimism that it would help to prevent the perennial market fires. Mr. Isaac Nii Djanmah Vanderpuye, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, on his part, urged the traders in the various beneficiary markets to cooperate with the contractors when the projects take off since there would be inconveniences. He also urged them to observe fire prevention precautions to avoid market fires, since the nation cannot bear the cost of such fires anymore. Mrs. Sedina Tamakloe- Attionu, Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC, presenting a dummy cheque to the leaders of the traders at the market, said MASLOC has appointed Dwadifo Adamfo, a savings and loans company, to disburse the loans to the beneficiary traders. She reminded them of the need to utilise the loans to be able to repay, adding that they would be able to request more funds for their business growth if they were able to repay. Mrs. Attionu said the financial support was in line with MASLOC's policy of supporting the growth of small scale enterprises, and believed it would help the second-hand clothes dealers, to restart their business after the devastating fire that destroyed their wares. She announced that MASLOC has since 2011, advanced to support victims of market fires across, and prayed that the perennial market fires would be prevented. Mr Justice Amarkai Tetteh, Secretary for the Second-Hand Clothes Dealers Association, who received the dummy cheque, thanked MASLOC for the timely support, saying that it would contribute to the revival of their collapsed businesses. He gave the assurance that they would do well to repay the money so as to enable others to access the fund.

Source: Myjoy