Koforidua, Jan. 7, GNA - The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram-Asiedu on Monday pledged Government's support for market women in the New Juaben Municipality.

He said the Government recognized the contribution of the informal sector to the economy and would, therefore, ensure that opportunities such as loan facilities were made accessible to them. Mr Affram-Asiedu gave the assurance when he in the company of the

Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Kwesi Adjei-Boateng and other officials of the Assembly including the various market queens, visited stalls and sheds at the Central and Juaben Serwa Markets to interact with them. Activities at the market almost came to a halt as some of the women, who were happy by the visit of the team, hugged and spread their cover clothes on the ground for the Minister to walks on. They expressed gratitude saying, it was the first time a Regional Minister had visited and interacted with them in the market and urged him to use his office to speed up the renovation of the market. Nana Adjei-Boateng in responding to their request said the Assembly was planning to put up a new market complex with a modern car park to ease congestion in the Municipality.

He told them that the leaking roofs of their stores would be repaired and explained that it would not be feasible to expand the market since that would compound the congestion in the town. Nana Adjei-Boateng advised the women to form co-operative so that they could access the micro finance and small loans to expand their businesses.