The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Abuakwa-North in the Eastern Region has commissioned a market shed at Akyem Tafo to boost economic conditions in the area and provide a conducive trading environment for the traders.

According to the assembly, the new shed with 41 stalls and 3 lockable shops will help ease congestion on the streets and allow for smooth buying and selling to take place.

The shed will mainly be used to accommodate traders on the streets and others who apply to conduct their trading activities from there.

MCE for the area, Alhaji Umar Bodinga, addressing the media after the event, indicated that the new facility adds up to three similar ones in the municipality, including Kukurantumi, Osiem, and New Tafo, which have already undergone various levels of upgrading.

On the allocation of the stalls to traders, the MCE assured that he would ensure that the spaces were given to the rightful and deserving traders but cautioned them against selling the stalls to others.

The completion of the stalls, he stressed, is going to increase economic activities in the municipality.

“Surely, it’s going to boost economic activities,” he said.

With the lack of proper maintenance being the bane of most infrastructure in the country, Alhaji Bodinga gave the firm assurance that his office would liaise with the traditional leadership to ensure that the facility is well conserved to last long enough to serve its purpose.

Chief of Akyem Tafo, Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV, said the facility would go a long way to address the lack of conducive trading activities in the community.

On proper maintenance practices to preserve the current state of the stalls, the chief said efforts would be made to educate the traders on best practices in the facility to ensure that it stays safe.

To ensure that the market serves its purpose, he said traders plying their trade by the wayside and inappropriate places would be encouraged to apply for the stalls to conduct their trading activities.

He expressed his profound appreciation to the MCE and the local Assembly for their timely intervention.

One of the women who identified herself as Yaa Boahemaa said, “I’m happy we now have a befitting market facility because the previous facility was in bad shape.”

She urged all traders to apply for the stalls and not sell at unauthorized places.