There was brisk business at markets and shopping centers in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, March, 26, 2020, ahead of Friday’s exercise to disinfect markets and other commercial spaces.
The exercise, which started in Greater Accra Region, is part of government’s efforts to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
Authorities in the region have already notified the traders, and have met leadership of the various markets ahead of the exercise in response to the announcement by the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), for all markets in the region to be closed down on Friday to allow for the disinfection exercise.
A visit to the market by Citi Business News showed that majority of people who trooped to the various markets in the region especially the Kumasi Central Market, mostly bought foodstuffs ahead of the exercise.
“The whole market will be closed so I have to rush in and buy a few things. I came all the way from Bekwai. The market is busy and crowded, and it’s scary because of the coronavirus,” one buyer said.
“It’s okay, but more measures have to be put in place because we are not safe in Ghana. They are announcing that everybody should wear gloves and cover their nose but when you come to the market, they are not taking it seriously”, a lady noted.
For some traders, although sales have been good for them ahead of the exercise, they have pledged to comply with the directive.
Leaders of the various trader groups say the traders will comply with the directive to close down their shops to pave way for the exercise.
The Chairman of the Kejetia Petty Traders Association, Nana Prempeh, urged government to put in place more measures to educate the traders on the pandemic.
“Beyond the disinfection, the education among our people is very low. Some of the traders see it as a hoax, while others think it is just one of those viral diseases that people are talking about. So, we entreat the city officials that after Friday’s exercise, they must embark on a massive education at the various markets. Be it within the market itself, or among the petty traders who are by the roadside. They don’t attach seriousness to the guidelines the health authorities have given us. They have taken things for granted and I think we are all at risk,” he stated.
Markets across the country to be disinfected
Earlier this month, the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry announced that a number of markets will be disinfected as part of measures to help curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
The disinfection exercise which begun in the Greater Accra Region will be extended to markets in other regions in the coming days.