Techiman (B/A), Dec. 21, GNA - Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister for Ports, Harbour and Railways has advised traders operating in the Techiman Central Market not to condone and connive with toll collectors to siphon revenue due the District Assembly.

He asked the traders to be vigilant and effectively monitor the activities of the collectors to ensure that they were issued with genuine receipts for the levies they paid.

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi gave he advice when inaugurating a newly constructed 320 market stalls financed by the World Bank under the Urban III Projects in the Techiman Central Market.

He tasked traders operating in the market to get involved in the collection of tolls to strengthen the Assembly's financial base for more structures to be constructed in the market, which has been described as ECOWAS Market because trucks from neighbouring countries visit the market to cart foodstuffs.

He noted that, though the establishment of the market had brought a lot of blessings to the people of Techiman during the reign of Nana Akumfi-Ameyaw in 1940s, it was also having some negative effects as many school children abandoned the classrooms from Wednesday to Friday to look for money.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the serious thing about this state of affairs was that some of these children did so with the connivance of their parents.

He reiterated the Government's determination to improve the standard of living of rural dwellers as well as develop the Techiman Market.

He called on traders to cultivate the culture of maintenance to prolong the lifespan of the stalls.

Mr Isaac Osei-Antwi, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Techiman, said the Assembly was committed to providing a congenial environment in the market since it contributed significant revenue to it. He said the development of the market to a modern standard was on-going with the assembly soliciting support from other development partners.

He announced that the Assembly had completed designs for the construction of storey buildings along the Atweredaa stream on a build, operate and transfer system (BOTS) to protect the stream from pollution and called on interested investors to come in and construct the structures.

On HIV/AIDS menace, the DCE cautioned the people to avoid indiscriminate sex since the disease was spreading at an alarming rate in the District.

He warned drug peddlers, especially, those dealing in cocaine and marijuana, to stop operating from the market and warned that a taskforce would soon go round to clamp down on these social misfits.

Madam Georgina Opokuwaa, a member of Palm Oil Sellers Association on behalf of the traders appealed to the Assembly to enlarge the size of the stalls and also grant them soft loans to expand their business. Nana Kwame Owusu, Ankobeahene of the Techiman Traditional Area, who chaired the function, praised Assembly for the judicious use of funds and the good work done.