Traders operating at the 31st December Makola Market (A&B) in Accra are expected to stage a protest march today, Friday, May 15, as they head to the Jubilee House to petition President John Dramani Mahama over what they describe as plans by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to relocate them from the market.
Why are the Makola market traders staging a protest march
The traders say the proposed relocation by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has created fear, uncertainty and growing anxiety among hundreds of business owners whose livelihoods depend entirely on daily trading activities.
According to the traders, authorities have failed to provide adequate consultation or clear information regarding where affected traders would be moved before the exercise begins. Many believe the process is moving too quickly without considering the economic impact on traders and their families.
Speaking ahead of the protest, Interim Market Manager Ebenezer Bekoe expressed frustration over the situation. He explained that many traders have spent years building their businesses at the market and cannot afford sudden displacement without proper alternatives.
According to him, traders depend on daily sales to pay school fees, rent, utility bills and support their households. Any disruption to their operations, he warned, could worsen the financial pressures many already face due to the challenging economic climate.
Several traders argue that abrupt displacement without detailed planning could severely affect small businesses that operate on limited capital margins. Others fear losing long standing customer relationships built over many years at the market.
The growing dispute also places additional attention on the broader challenge of managing congestion, sanitation and infrastructure modernization within Ghana’s busiest urban markets while protecting livelihoods.
For now, traders say they remain determined to push forward with their protest and petition, hoping government officials will reconsider the proposed arrangements and engage stakeholders more extensively before taking further action.
“We are going to take a very drastic action. Our placards are ready, and we are moving. We are sending a petition to the Presidency. We have already sent letters to the Jubilee House, and the police have given us a permit, and we are going to move in our numbers.
How many traders are expected to stage this protest march
“It wouldn’t be less than 100 because that is the number we gave to the police but I can assure you that the numbers will be more than what we even envisaged.”
