Kasoa (C/R) Nov. 26 GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has so far provided financial assistance of more than 150 billion cedis under its micro-finance programme, the Women's Development Fund to support women's economic activities in Agriculture, Agro-processing, Trading, Food evacuation and the supply of tools and equipment.

These and others were some of the interventions that the government have made in its efforts to address the issue of Women's empowerment and development.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 4.1 billion cedis new Kasoa market at Kasoa on Thursday, the Sector Minister, Mrs. Gladys Asmah said her ministry has also began the assistance packages of providing tools and equipment as well as seed money to the hairdressers, beauticians and dressmakers.

The market was built by the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Assembly and the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development and Food and Agriculture with financial assistance from the World Bank and the Ghana government.

The market which, has modern facilities including lorry Park, toilet Bath House urinal Blocks and a barbed wire fence around it, was said be to be the second biggest market after the one at Techman. Its construction would decongest the area and also give way to the construction of the Mallam-Kasoa-Winneba trunk road, which forms part of the Trans-West African Highways currently under construction.

Mrs. Armah said that the success and profitability of the new Kasoa Market is a collective responsibility of all and therefore, urged them to take proper care of facilities there to prolong their lifespan. She told the women that the dangers posed to market users by vehicles, coupled with sanitation and health related problems, as well as the traffic menace makes the relocation of the Kasoa Markets to a more conducive area very necessary.

The District Chief Executive for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Captain (rtd) Kwamena Armah, giving the brief history of the market said, it was stated under the Agriculture Sector Initiative Programme (ASIP) in 1996 and later took over by the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP).

He commended the chiefs in the area for their contribution towards the construction of the market and called for further assistance towards the provision of more facilities including lockable stores, warehouse and cr=E8che and clinic.