The Public Health Emergency Response Team (PHERM) of the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly (NJSMA) has suspended non-food sellers in the three major markets in Koforidua for two weeks for non-adherence to the social distancing protocols.

They are the Juaben Serwa, Central and the Agatha market and the suspension takes effect from Sunday, April 12 to 26, 2020 to enable the assembly to strategise on how to run a shift system for the traders to reduce congestion.

A joint statement issued by PHERM and NJSMA, signed by Mr Musah Yahaya Froko, Municipal Coordinating Director and copied to the GNA, made it clear that the suspension follows the failure to observe the social distancing protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Many residents had expressed worry over the congestion at the three markets since the President gave the directives on the social distancing protocol in all markets.

A visit to these three markets by GNA indicated that the Agatha market where traders from across the region bring foodstuffs on Mondays and Thursdays for sale had no handwashing facilities and was very congested making the social distancing protocol difficult to observe.

The Juaben Serwa and the Koforidua central markets, however, had the handwashing facilities but were inadequate and it was also observed that it was not being used.