Traders and patrons of the Assakae Market in the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipality of the Western Region are breathing easier amid brisk business following the evacuation of a huge refuse pile at the center of the market.
The Assakae Market had for several weeks been grappling with a worsening sanitation situation, as refuse generated from daily trading activities and from households continued to pile up due to irregular collection schedule.
Traders at the market continued to complain about the unbearable stench, which was driving their customers away, negatively affecting sales and damaging the overall image and business activities at the market.
Flies and rodents were visibly present, raising serious concerns about food contamination, heightening fears of cholera and other sanitation-related diseases.
Expectedly, their health was also impacted as some traders reported frequent headaches, nausea, and respiratory discomfort due to the foul smell from the decomposing waste.
Some also lamented that customers avoided their stalls, especially vegetable vendors whose businesses were quite close to the refuse pile. The situation created tension between traders and the municipal authorities, with many questioning the relevance of paying market tolls amid such poor sanitation.
They therefore threatened to stop paying market tolls if the heap of refuse is not cleared.
It was against this backdrop of growing frustration and public health concerns that CONNECT News stepped in, amplifying the voices of affected traders through a series of reports and on-air engagements and continuous engagement with the assembly.
This heightened the pressure for immediate intervention.
On Saturday, sanitation trucks were deployed by the assembly to the market, where the refuse was cleared bringing much needed relief to the traders.
The traders who were full of praise for Connect FM also called on the Assembly to ensure regular evacuation of refuse from the market, especially as they are compelled to pay daily tolls. Auntie Afia who trades in vegetables stated; “We are very happy the refuse has been evacuated because the stench was not good for us at all. We pray that dumping of heaps of refuse will not happen here again,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the Assemblyman for Asakae, Kwame Dum has since issued a strong warning to deter future indiscriminate dumping at the market, announcing that anyone found doing so will be fined one thousand Ghana cedis.
