By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Takoradi
Traders at the New Market in Takoradi have declared an indefinite boycott of market toll payments beginning July 1, 2026.
They have threatened to move into the uncompleted Takoradi Market Circle by the end of July, 2026 if authorities continue to delay completion of the long-stalled project.
According to them, they have lost confidence in assurances by authorities after waiting five years in a temporary market that was originally intended to accommodate them for only two years.
At a press conference, the spokesperson for the aggrieved market women, Madam Lamisi Adams explained that they have already presented petition addressed to the Market Management Committee, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), the Western Regional Coordinating Council, Members of Parliament in the Western Region, the Western Regional representative on the Council of State, the House of Chiefs and the Royal Ebiradze Stool of Amanful.
In the petition, she said the traders expressed frustration over the prolonged silence from the authorities.
“We have waited patiently after our peaceful demonstration and allowed one month for engagement and feedback, but no official communication has been received,” she stated.
She clarified that the temporary market has become unsuitable for business due to poor infrastructure, inadequate sanitation, accessibility challenges and deteriorating trading conditions, which continue to affect both their livelihoods and customers.
Madam Lamisi also criticised the absence of any clear timeline for the completion of the new market and the allocation of stalls and shops.
She reiterated that the market women would stop paying market tolls from July 1, insisting that they could no longer continue contributing revenue without seeing any meaningful development at the market.
She pointed out that the trader’s decision is driven by years of unfulfilled promises and worsening business conditions.
She questioned why major market infrastructure projects in other parts of the country had been completed while Takoradi’s market project remains unfinished.
She cited markets such as Tudu and Makola in Accra, as well as Asafo and Kejetia in Kumasi, saying those markets have significantly improved trading conditions for businesses.
“What can we boast of in Sekondi-Takoradi? Our livelihoods depend on what we sell in the markets,” she lamented.
Therefore, she called on the relevant authorities to urgently engage traders and provide details on the current status of the project, the expected completion date, the relocation timetable and measures being taken to address challenges delaying completion.
Madam Adam warned that if no satisfactory response is received within a reasonable period, they would resort to all lawful and democratic means available, including another peaceful demonstration and petitioning higher authorities to intervene.
“Our intention is not confrontation but to seek accountability, transparency and a practical solution to a situation that has persisted for far too long,” she stressed.
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