Hundreds of traders yesterday appealed to the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly to reopen the Nima market for them to continue their trading activities to feed their families.

The assembly had earlier yesterday closed the market after traders flouted the coronavirus (COVID-19) safety protocols given by the President.

The decision to close down the market was arrived at after Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly Security Council held a consultative meeting on Wednesday.

Some of the traders who spoke to TV3 and monitored by the Ghanaian Times said they should be allowed to go back to the market and sell since they had restocked their goods.

“I bought a lot of things, garden eggs, tomatoes and pepper and they are going bad already. But we are being asked not to sell again.

“At least they should consider us and let us sell our goods then find ways of making us comply with the directive. “We cannot stay home for another week without selling, we would die,” another trader added.”

The assembly said they will only reopen the market after meeting with the stakeholders in the market.

The Municipal Coordinating Director Nii Armah Ashitey explained that the conclusion of their meeting with the traders’ associations in the market would inform their next line of action.

“Traders have refused to abide by the COVID-19 safety protocols, we will meet the stakeholders and see the next way forward. So at the moment I cannot say when it will be, but will inform the public the next point of Action.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, has warned of an imminent closure of markets where vendors fail to comply with social distancing directives.

According to her, the need to enforce all relevant protocols to contain the spread of COVID-19 will be paramount in all dealings with the market vendors in the wake of the pandemic.