Coronavirus: Jomoro Assembly closes down Sowodadzem market for fumigation

Correspondence from Western Region:

The Jomoro Municipal Coronavirus Committee in the Western Region has closed down Sowodadzem market for fumigation.

The Local Government Ministry in conjunction with the Zoomlion Ghana Limited is disinfecting all market places in the Western Region on Monday, April 6, 2020, as a way to slow the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

The step is in pursuant to the directive from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the Ministry to coordinate with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enhance the conditions of hygiene in markets nationwide.

But some traders in the area expressed their unhappiness towards the exercise with reasons that the timing for the exercise was not helpful.

In an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent Daniel Kaku on Sunday evening, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Ernest Kofie appealed to traders in the Sowodadzem market sacrifice their time for the disinfection exercise.

He said he wished the fumigation exercise would have taken place on a different day but stressed that "this is a national exercise and this is what the government have decided so we can't do anything about it so I will appeal to the traders to rally behind us to embark on the exercise for the betterment of all".

Asked whether only Sowodadzem market will be disinfected, the MCE said all market places including; Elubo market, Jaway Wharf market, Tikobo No.1 and Tikobo No.2 will also be fumigated on Monday, March 6, 2020.

He, however, indicated that apart from the market places, other public areas such as big stores, transport terminals, drains and other important places will also be covered in the disinfecting exercise.

Mr. Ernest Kofie, therefore, advised traders most especially dealers in food-related items in the markets to remove their wares to safer location or properly cover them with strong polythene or rubber materials to avoid contamination.

"I am appealing to all traders in the various market places and the general public to support stay away from the areas to be sprayed", he concluded.