Traders compete for space at Bolgatanga market

Traders at the new Bolgatanga market are competing for space as construction works on the ultra-modern market structure progresses.

Some of the traders have already occupied the completed stores under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangements with the Municipal Assembly.

Food stuff traders are also sitting with their wares amidst heaps of gravels and stones as the construction of drains and walkways in the market advanced.

Mr Philip Aboore, the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga to explain the situation, said relocating the traders to the renovated old market had been difficult, hence the situation.

Mr Aboore said the construction of the ultra-modern structure was a collaborative venture between the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly and the private sector.

The MCE said the Government encouraged the BOP system as part of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme to facilitate development.

On the Assembly’s part, the MCE said the Type ‘B’ Market stores would be built to house food stuff traders, while there would be a drain in the market to manage the liquid disposal of waste and prevent flooding.

Additionally, a 1.2 kilometre-bitumen road under construction is expected to be completed soon to ease the movement of wares in the market.

The MCE said sanitation issues was highly considered in the establishment of the market, therefore, a 20-seater W/C, a borehole and a bath house were being provided.

The market was awarded in 2008 under the Jubilee Bond Projects, but it was abandoned due to lack of cooperation between the traders and the contractor over the relocation of the traders.

Meanwhile, most market stalls at the renovated old market are yet to be fully occupied by traders as some of the stalls have been taken over by mental health patients, and are also being used by people as places of convenience.

A trader at the old market, Madam Asibi Atanpoka, said the market stalls were too small and they could not contain the wares of most traders, and also it could not them from the rain.

She said for the past five years, sales had been poor as customers preferred to do business in the new market.

She complained that the urinal and only toilet was far from the market stores, making traders leave their wares to walk long stretches to use that facility.