Five years after traders were relocated from the iconic Takoradi Market Circle with assurances of a swift redevelopment, hundreds of affected traders say the prolonged delay is destroying livelihoods and pushing many into sickness and poverty.
In a press statement issued by a group calling itself the “Concerned Traders of Takoradi Central Market,” the traders described their current situation as “pitiful and distressing,” accusing authorities of failing to provide clear timelines on the completion of the stalled market redevelopment project.
The Takoradi Market Circle, regarded as the commercial heartbeat of the Western Region, has historically served as a major trading hub for thousands of businesses and consumers.
The redevelopment project, which commenced in 2020 after concerns were raised about the structural integrity of the old market, was expected to transform the aging facility into a modern commercial centre.
However, traders say the promise of completing the project within two years has not materialised. Instead, they have spent the last five years operating from a temporary site at the Ghapoha Junior Club House area under difficult conditions.
“We were relocated to a temporary site with a promise that the new market would be ready within two years. However, the temporary arrangement has turned out to be a financial burden on us,” portions of the statement said.
According to the traders, they were compelled to pay between GH¢400 and GH¢1,000 for temporary structures, while some invested even more money to put up their own stores. They insist the prolonged delay has severely affected their businesses and livelihoods.
The traders further expressed fears about the quality and long-term safety of the new market structure. They claimed information available to them suggests parts of the facility are being coated with anti-rust paint despite its proximity to the sea, raising concerns about corrosion and structural durability.
“We are questioning whether it would be safe for use in the next ten years,” the statement noted, adding that products such as salt and salted fish commonly traded at the market could further accelerate deterioration.
Their concerns come at a time government officials continue to assure the public of renewed efforts to complete the project. In November 2025, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson inspected the abandoned site and pledged government’s commitment to restarting work after years of inactivity linked to Ghana’s debt restructuring programme.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs also reaffirmed government’s commitment to completing both the Takoradi Market Circle redevelopment and the Kejetia Market Phase II projects, describing them as strategic national investments.
Officials disclosed that the Takoradi Market Circle project was over 81 percent complete but still faced funding constraints and outstanding payments. But for the affected traders, the repeated assurances are no longer enough.
The group appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson and Member of Parliament for Takoradi Kobina Okyere Darko-Mensah to urgently intervene and provide a definitive timeline for completion of the project.
They lamented that the uncertainty and harsh trading conditions had taken a devastating toll on several traders.
“Most of the traders have either died or become bedridden because of this harrowing situation we are going through,” the statement said.
The traders warned that unless urgent action is taken, confidence in the entire redevelopment initiative could collapse.
“We are helpless and seek the intervention of all stakeholders before we all die,” they appealed.
By Eric Yaw Adjei
