Ga West creates satellite market to control COVID-19 spread

The Ga West Municipal Assembly (GWMA) has converted the Amasaman Park into a temporary satellite market to ease congestion at the main market and to ensure effective social distancing.

The assembly said the satellite market had been adopted to implement the directive on social distancing as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) infections.

The Amasaman Market is the largest trading centre in the municipality, recording a large number of traders from other parts of Accra, and as such the assembly said trading could be an easy conduit for the spread of the virus.

Visit

The Daily Graphic visited the municipality last Wednesday and observed that the large park had been well demarcated into spacious and organised squares wide enough to keep the traders apart.

The assembly has since moved traders off the shoulders of the streets, with an improved patronage at the satellite market where traders operated under large umbrellas.

The assembly’s taskforce stood at vantage points where veronica buckets had been placed to encourage handwashing among traders and visitors, while the wearing of nose mask was also being enforced.

Some of the traders and patrons of the market who spoke to the Daily Graphic lauded the assembly for the arrangement.

“I think the arrangement is for our own good and I commend the assembly for that. Initially some of us were not enthused about it because we thought it would make us lose our customers. So far it has not affected business,” Ms Yaa Pomaa, a cassava seller, said.

Protocols

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Clement Nii Lamptey Wilkinson, expressed optimism that the spacing and continuous education in the market would help contain the spread in the area.

“Confronted with the challenge and the risk posed by overcrowding, we had two options and the traders opted for the satellite market,” he said.

The MCE said the creation of the satellite market had brought to the fore the need for a permanent arrangement like that but added that such a decision would have to be taken by all stakeholders.

The assembly has introduced a GH¢20 fine for those who move out without nose masks, and Mr Wilkinson said the people had largely complied with the directive on nose masks, and gave an assurance that the assembly would enhance the safety of residents in the municipality.