Ashaiman market women mob MP for fulfilling campaign promise

It was a sight to behold when hundreds of market women mobbed the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey as he paid a working visit to the newly opened Mandela market at Ashaiman.

The market women who were full of joy upon seeing the MP at their new market could not hide their joy except to shower praises on him, drum empty oil gallons to show love amidst singing of local melodies to express their appreciation to the MP.

The Member of Parliament on Friday paid a working visit to the new Mandela market at Adjei kojo junction near Ashaiman where about one thousand plus women trade.

The market women who are referred to as Mandela market women earlier traded on the street in front of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly on mondays and thursday's.

This most of the women complained about since they risked being knocked down by vehicles.

Prior to the 2016 general election, the market women on countless occassions appealed to the Municipal Authorities and the NDC Parliamentary Candidate at the time, Ernest Norgbey to provide them with a befitting area for market where they could ply their trade without interferences.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Ernest Norgbey who was an aspirant at the time promised to liaise with the Assembly to relocate them to their new location.

After series of meetings with the Assembly under the leadership of the then Municipal Chief Executive, Ibrahim Baidoo, though out of office, the Assembly on thursday 16th february successfully relocated the women to the new site which falls within the lands of the Irrigation Development Authority near the Adjei kojo junction.

A day after they had been relocated, the MP paid a working visit to the area to see at first hand how things are going at the new market.

Addressing the media after his tour of the market yesterday, Mr Norgbey congratulated the Coordinating Director of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly for taking the bold step by making it a reality their agreement to relocate the women to their current place.

He however called on the Assembly to endeavour to cordon off the high tension polls so as to prevent the women from getting closer to it. He also charged the Assembly to ensure it provides adequate security for the women to safeguard their wares.

"I am happy that finally these market women who sell on the street have been relocated to a more permanent area to do their business. Kudos to the MCD and all whomplayed diverse rolls in making it a reality. Having visited this new place today, I think there is more to be done to ensure the place befits the status of a proper market and I will liaise with the incoming MCE to work ensure the market women are comfortable with their new place of business by providing them the necessary social amenities such as water, toilet facility, light etc to enhance their trade"

He promised to again work with the Assembly to ensure the needs of the women are met.

Some of the market women though happy they have been relocated to a more permanent place to trade, they accused the Assembly of bias in the allocation of space to them accusing the authorities of allocating space to the wrong people"

"Most of us who trade at the original Mandela street market have been bypassed by the officials in the allocation of the space at the new market and rather people from outside Ashaiman have been rather considered in the allocation of space. This is unfair and must be looked at critically by the authorities as it would create problems. We must also survive because this is what we do to look after our children in school"