Traders at the Kwabenya Market have kicked against plans to introduce a 24-hour market initiative, with some turning up in red clothing to protest what they describe as a threat to their livelihoods.
The traders say they will resist any attempt to evict them from portions of the market to make way for the initiative being pursued by the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GEMA).
According to them, the market is large enough for the Assembly to allocate a portion for the 24-hour market without displacing existing traders.
In an interview with Adom News, some of the traders, many of whom say they are single mothers, fear that their removal would leave them without a source of income and push their families further into poverty.
They claim the Assembly has already marked some shops for immediate removal, heightening concerns among traders who say they have not been given adequate assurances about their livelihoods.
The traders are therefore appealing to the authorities to reconsider the planned eviction and engage them on a solution that will allow the 24-hour market initiative to proceed without displacing them.
Some traders have also accused officials of assaulting them during a previous meeting held to find a resolution to the dispute.
The affected traders are demanding further engagement with the Assembly and insist that their livelihoods must be considered before any demolition or removal exercise is carried out.
Also read:
