Government says the decongestion and clean-up of the Agbogbloshie onion market in Accra will take more than a week to be completed.
The government with assistance from about a thousand security officers embarked on the demolition of structures at the Agbogbloshie market on Thursday, July 1, 2021, after the relocation of the onion traders to Adjen Kotoku.
Addressing the media, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, assured that the exercise would continue until the area is cleared of the debris.
He also mentioned that business activities have taken off smoothly at the Adjen Kotoku market for the onion sellers.
According to him, there was a struggle for space to trade among the traders at the new location.
“Initially, we were hoping to do this [clean-up] in three days, but clearly, it appears we will be here for a week and a half, so we are able to clear everything and make it a ground zero. I am aware that even at Adjen Kotoku as speak, ordinarily, one would have thought that they will be struggling to even find space, but I am reliably informed that they have started doing business and it is refreshing to note that trotros have already started loading from Adjen Kotoku market to Kasoa. Isn’t this beautiful?” He asked.
Meanwhile, the clearing of the Agbogbloshie Market wasn’t without controversy as police supervising the exercise had to fire shots to scare away what they said were ‘criminal elements’ who attempted to impede the exercise.
Onion traders began their business at the Adjen Kotoku Market in the Ga West Municipality on Thursday, July 1, 2021, as part of efforts to decongest some areas of the capital city.