Traders not adhering to social distancing protocol at markets
A tour of some markets and bus stations in three municipalities in Accra by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, yesterday revealed very close interaction among traders and also between traders and buyers in the markets.
The minister, who undertook the tour to assess the level of traders and drivers’ compliance with the restrictions on movement, visited the Nungua, Teshie Laskala and La markets, as well as the Nungua bus station and the Teshie Laskala Market taxi rank, all in the Krowor, Ledzokuku and La Dade Kotopon municipalities.
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It was observed that although majority of the traders had hand sanitiser and Veronica buckets placed at vantage points, a large number of them had no facial masks or gloves.
Mr Ashitey, therefore, urged them to take seriously the practice of social (physical) distancing to help reduce the spread of the virus and also asked them to use nose masks when they were engaged in selling.
He also asked them to talk less when selling, in order not to contaminate the food items.
The minister noted that the level of compliance by the traders had improved since the first day of the restricted movement.
Security
The visit also afforded him the opportunity to interact with security men at the various checkpoints, some of whom appealed to the authorities to provide them with food and water.
Mr Ashitey, consequently, called on the MCEs for the three municipalities to meet the demands of the security men for food and water.
He said he had received complaints from the security detail about people roaming on the streets, saying: “I have asked them to be a bit patient with the people. We don’t want them to beat anybody but rather persuade them, without using force.”
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He also pleaded with anyone just roaming the streets to desist from that act to help the country stop the spread of the virus.
Adhere to directives
The MCEs for Krowor, Ledzokuku and La Dade Kotopon, Nii Joshua Bortey, Mrs Evelyn Twum-Gyamerah and Mr Solomon Kotey-Nikoi, respectively, urged traders and drivers to adhere to the directives, adding that they would support the people with what they needed to be safe.