Correspondence from Western Region

In an effort to ensure social distancing protocol to prevent the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, the Ellembelle District Assembly in the Western Region has partially locked-down some markets in the area.

The affected markets are Aiyinasi market and Asasetre market. These are the two main market places in the District.

The market day for Aiyinasi is every Tuesday and Friday while the market day for Asasetre is every Wednesday.

In an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent Daniel Kaku at Nkroful on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, who is also the Chairman of Ellembelle District Security Council, Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh said the Assembly together with the Public Health Emergency Committee convened a meeting on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 to adopt some measures to implement social distancing protocol in market places and other places.

He added that the Committee invited Transport Unions and Market Queens in the district to share their ideas.

He said the meeting ended successfully and emphasized that the partial shutdown of the aforementioned market places begins immediately.

According to him, traders selling food items and water shall be allowed into the markets to sell.

He stressed that, "All other traders selling non-food items shall not be allowed to sell in the market (Aiyinasi market) on Tuesdays and Fridays with immediate effect".

"All other traders selling non-food items shall not be allowed to sell in the Asasetre market on Wednesdays with immediate effect", he added.

With the directives, the DCE said persons below eighteen (18) years were not permitted into the markets either to buy or sell.

"Children below eighteen years are not permitted into the markets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Wednesdays respectively to either buy or sell", he announced.

He advised parents not to allow their children to go out indiscriminately, "President Akufo-Addo thought it wise to ensure social distancing protocol not to allow our school children to be infected with the Coronavirus that is why he closed down Schools so I will call on parents in Ellembelle District not to allow their children to go out anyhow and I will urge parents to advise their children learn at home".

Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh said a joint security taskforce has been formed to assist the Committee to deal with children below 18 years.

"It is important to note that the joint security taskforce and Ellembelle District Assembly are to arrest and detain children below eighteen years buying or selling in and around both markets on the said days at Aiyinasi and Asasetre markets", he stated.



He said the taskforce would continue to educate the traders to reduce overcrowding in line with the social distancing protocol.