By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has directed all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to secure land for the construction of modern markets before evicting traders from streets and pavements.
Speaking during the first National Sanitation Day clean-up exercise in Accra following its Presidential relaunch, the Minister emphasized that the government’s goal is to ensure that every district has a well-structured market space to promote organized trading, improve sanitation, and support economic growth.
“We cannot continue to drive traders from the streets when we have not provided them with an alternative,” Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim said. “Every Assembly must identify and acquire land in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the development of modern 24-hour economy markets.”
The Minister lamented that Accra currently lacks a well-structured central market compared to other major cities such as Kumasi, which boasts of large, organized markets like Kejetia. He noted that this infrastructural gap contributes to street trading, congestion, and poor sanitation across the capital.
“Accra is the capital city, but there’s no single modern market that matches its status. We must change that,” he stressed. “If we want to keep the streets clean, then we must also build places where traders can work in dignity.”
He announced that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is partnering with the Local Government Ministry and Assemblies to identify and secure appropriate lands for the construction of new, hygienic market centers. These facilities will feature drainage systems, waste disposal units, and sanitation infrastructure to sustain cleanliness and support the government’s 24-hour economy agenda.
He further stated that sanitation and organized trading are essential pillars of urban renewal, assuring that the government will provide logistical and financial support to Assemblies to fast-track the market projects.
The Minister joined the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, and officials from the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) during the citywide clean-up, which recorded high community participation across Agbogbloshie, Kaneshie, Tuesday Market, and the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange
