The La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly has embarked on the demolition of the old Zonal Council Market at Madina following concerns about the structural integrity of the building.
The exercise follows a structural integrity test conducted on the facility, which reportedly recorded readings as low as 11 Newtons per square millimetre (N/mm²), raising concerns about the safety of traders, shoppers and other users of the market.
The Municipal Engineer of the Assembly, Engineer Mohammed Danjumah Ahmed, said the demolition had become necessary to prevent potential safety risks associated with the deteriorating structure.
Although some traders had previously resisted the exercise over concerns about the impact on their businesses, others have now called on the Assembly to ensure the prompt reconstruction of the market to enable them to return to their trading activities.
Some of the affected traders told the media that they had been engaged by the Assembly and informed about the reasons behind the demolition.
They said the consultations had helped them understand the need for the exercise, adding that their major concern was now how quickly the authorities could provide a replacement facility.
The traders stressed that the demolition had disrupted their businesses, with some operators compelled to sell their goods along roadsides while awaiting the construction of a new market.
They appealed to the Assembly to prioritise the reconstruction process to reduce the difficulties faced by affected traders and restore normal commercial activities in the area.
“We have been engaged about the demolition and the reasons why it has become necessary,” some of the traders said.
Others expressed concern about the timeline for the reconstruction, noting that their willingness to accept the demolition depended largely on the authorities’ commitment to providing a replacement facility.
“We don’t have a problem with the demolition. Our only fear is whether the reconstruction of the market will be swift so that we can return to business,” they said.
The traders urged the Assembly to ensure that the project does not suffer unnecessary delays, warning that prolonged displacement could affect their livelihoods and the economic activities of the market community.
In response to the concerns, Engineer Mohammed Danjumah Ahmed said the reconstruction of the market would be undertaken as part of the Assembly’s planned 24-hour market project.
He explained that the redevelopment was intended to provide a new facility to accommodate traders and support commercial activities in the municipality.
The Municipal Engineer further assured traders that those whose records are available with the Assembly would be allocated shops in the reconstructed market.
The assurance is expected to provide some relief to affected traders, many of whom are eager to resume business in a more secure and organised trading environment.
However, the traders’ immediate concern remains the pace of reconstruction and how soon they can return to their stalls.
The planned redevelopment is expected to address the safety concerns associated with the old structure while providing an opportunity to improve trading conditions at the Madina market.
For the affected traders, the success of the exercise will ultimately depend not only on the removal of the unsafe building but also on how quickly a replacement market is delivered to restore their businesses and livelihoods.
Abandoned Madina market building raises safety concerns as traders continue business
