The resurgence of the Apremdo Central Market—formerly Abenbebom—could become an exemplary urban market experiment if current momentum continues.
Originally established as an overflow facility for Takoradi’s congested Market Circle, Apremdo Central Market is now experiencing its busiest days in years.
Whether this renewed energy lasts will depend on effective collaboration among chiefs, municipal authorities, and traders—a challenge that Nana Egya Kwamina XI the chief of Apremdo says he is ready to confront with enthusiasm.
“It is a personal commitment to make the Apremdo Central Market attractive and cement it as an indispensable trading hub, comparable to that in Accra and Kumasi,” he said.
The Apremdo Central Market was conceived with foresight. Before Takoradi’s central trading district reached its breaking point, planners envisioned a modern, spacious hub adorned with stalls, shops, a bus terminal, and storage facilities that would absorb the commercial spillover. The infrastructure was built, but the vision stalled.
For nearly two decades, successive governments attempted and failed to persuade traders to relocate from the then overburdened Market Circle. Those who did make the move had one chorus of poor patronage and official neglect, as most shoppers continued to favour the older, livelier Takoradi market.
Something drastic has happened that could make the dull tide turn. The Apremdo Central Market has experienced a rare lifeline. Hundreds of traders from Takoradi’s Jubilee Park, a site originally repurposed as a temporary market during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been relocated there.
The result has been a surge in daily activity, with brisk trading that some say rivals the Market Circle. For the first time in years, Apremdo’s long rows of stalls are filling up, and traders are reporting modest but measurable gains in foot traffic and sales.
According to municipal data, the Apremdo market site spans roughly 6.5 acres and can accommodate over 1,200 traders — a capacity that positions it as one of the largest organised markets in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan and the Effia-Kwesimintsim Area after Market Circle. The site also sits strategically along the Kansaworado highway, connecting Takoradi to Tarkwa and the Western mining corridor, giving it a locational advantage.
The Apremdo Chief, Nana Egya Kwamina XI, welcomes the recent wave of change but tempers his optimism with realism, recalling previous attempts that saw enthusiasm fade after initial relocations. Speaking exclusively to ConnectNews, he expressed his unwavering commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure lasting progress.
“One of the measures I will impress on the assembly to implement will be either a Tuesday or a Friday market day. The attraction will be that we will talk to neighbouring agrarian assemblies like Mpohor, Ahanta West, and Wassa East — and communities after Mampong in STMA — to encourage farmers there to bring their farm produce to the market day.”
He mentioned he will discuss with the host assembly, EKMA, the possibility of arranging and securing subsidised transport to bring these farmers and their goods directly to Apremdo. “On the night before the market day, the transports will station at vantage points in these neighbouring assemblies and transport them to the Apremdo Central Market,” he envisioned.
The chief also wants to reposition Apremdo as a major bulk-breaking point for goods arriving from the western corridor. “This idea has been played with before. I don’t know why it did not materialise. This time, I will push it and make it a personal project — that all goods from Ahanta West, Nzema East, Tarkwa, Prestea, and the rest, going to Takoradi, will necessarily be sent to the Apremdo Central Market and later conveyed to other places.”
He draws reference from a 2024 Ghana Statistical Service urban commerce report that notes that more than 60% of trading activity in the Sekondi-Takoradi enclave happens in the Takoradi Market Circle, leaving newer markets like Apremdo and Kojokrom underused. “Therefore, this relocation, if well-managed, can rebalance this load, and the gains will be enormous. That will be when the rationale for the Apremdo Central Market will be realised.”
“Takoradi is expanding, and areas like Whindo, Asakae, and Kansaworado are becoming the preference now.” Therefore, with the right measures, residents in these areas will find it more convenient to use the Apremdo Central Market instead of going to Takoradi. The prospects are huge, but realising them will depend on continued teamwork and resolve. I am ready to play an active role in this.”
The Chief plans to meet with surrounding traditional leaders to coordinate joint promotion efforts for the market. He has also initiated a symbolic but strategic rebranding by renaming the Abenbebom Market to the Apremdo Central Market, a name he believes carries both civic pride and marketing appeal. “The significance of names is telling. As part of the market’s branding, the name must change. The current one does not sell the market well.”
He will also mention that in terms of security, there are talks for the assembly to construct a proper fence wall and provide a good lighting system to protect goods and other properties these “brave” traders in the market.
For the many traders who have braced the odds for years, their spirits are high as the early signs are encouraging. “We have all the necessary facilities to support our activities. Now, I can see an improvement in the number of people who visit me a day. So already, we have started to see signs,” one trader shared, praising the new Municipal Chief Executive for spearheading the relocation.
“For this early momentum to stay, I will plead with the assembly to speak with the various transport unions to start with subsidised services and clear signage linking Apremdo to major commuter routes. Again, the assembly must be practical with maintenance of drains, lighting, and stall maintenance must be monitored to help keep the environment clean and safe,” another trader suggested.
