Aflao, July 9, GNA - A yam market has been opened at Aflao to ease the glut experienced by farmers in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region during the yam season.

The deal was struck through collaboration between the chiefs of the Aflao Traditional area led by Togbe Amenya Fiti V, Paramount Chief and the Nkwanta District Branch of the Kokomba Youth Association (KYA). At a durbar to mark the opening of the market on Friday, Togbe Fiti urged traditional leaders to liaise with their counterparts to find distribution outlets for foodstuffs produced in their areas, which were often left to rot due to minor problems, while other areas cried for such produce, or bought them at prohibitive prices.

He announced that the Aflao Traditional Council had leased a two-acre plot near the Diamond Cement Ghana Limited (DCGL) for the market, which had been temporarily located at Akligokope, a suburb of Aflao.

Togbe Fiti said the market could turn into a major base for trade in yams in the sub-region, as Aflao was a marketing point for traders from Benin and Togo.

He suggested that maize and groundnuts, which were staples of people in the area, were included in crops to be traded in the market. Togbe Fiti urged Kokombas who would patronise the market to live in peace with their hosts and expressed the hope that the market was the beginning of the development of strong ties between the people of Aflao and the Kokomba people nationwide.

Among the 50 representatives of Kokombas at the ceremony were chiefs, farmers, youth leaders, assembly members including Mr Jacob Jejite, Legal Advisor of the Kokomba Community in the Nkwanta District and Mr Suleiman Saaka, Deputy District Coordinating Director (DCD) Nkwanta District.

Others were Nana Taber, chief of Dunakye, Nana Iliaje, Alege-Kroa and Mr Amos Ujaakpa Chairman of the Nkwanta District branch of the KYA. Mr Jejite said the mission of the Kokombas in the area was pure business and promised that they would live in harmony with the inhabitants.

He expressed the hope that the establishment of the market would help promote yam as a second staple of the people in the area. Mr Jejite said soon the market would flourish with other produce from the Nkwanta District including birds and livestock.

The KYA presented a sheep, a goat, a fowl, a quantity of yams and some bottles of schnapps to the Aflao traditional authorities to signify the opening of the market while the traditional authorities performed traditional rites to mark the formal commencement of the yam season. 9 July 05