Director of Communications at GUTA, Joseph Paddy
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) is urging the government to prioritise the development of satellite markets across the country as a strategic step toward improving Ghana’s market infrastructure and easing congestion in major trading centers.
This follows a recent comment made by the Kumasi Mayor, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, who threatened to discipline traders who fail to comply with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s (KMA) directive against trading in unauthorised areas.
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the Mayor issued a two-week ultimatum to traders operating along pavements within the central business district to vacate the area or face sanctions, including being lashed.
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb Business, the Director of Communication at GUTA, Joseph Paddy, said the association strongly objects to the mayor’s statement.
He stated that one of the most effective solutions would be for the government to build satellite markets to reduce pressure on central markets across the country.
“Why won’t the government partner with the public so that, together, we can create better market spaces for our people? We need to build more satellite markets so people don’t have to travel all the way from Kasoa to Accra just to buy or sell. The population outweighs the market spaces, and that’s why we see people trading in unauthorised places,” he said.
He further called for stronger collaboration between the government and key stakeholders, such as trade associations and market leaders, to help resolve the rising issues faced by traders.
SP/MA
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