The bustling markets of Accra fell silent today as the Ga Traditional Council ordered all shops to close for a citywide clean-up exercise in preparation for the Homowo festival.
The event, led by the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, in collaboration with the Accra Coordinating Council and Zoomlion, aimed to rid the city of accumulated waste.
Traders and buyers who traveled from various regions expressed frustration at the unexpected closure. Many claimed they were unaware of the scheduled clean-up and had come unprepared for the market shutdown. “We traveled from far away, only to find the market closed. We had no idea about this clean-up exercise,” one customer lamented.
Other traders argued that they had already participated in clean-up activities within their own communities and felt that market women should be responsible for their own areas. “We’ve already done our clean-up at home. The market women should handle their part here,” one trader commented.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II emphasized the importance of communal participation in the clean-up exercise to restore Accra’s cleanliness. “We urge everyone to get involved in this effort to make Accra clean once again,” he said.
Starting Monday, July 15, the Ga Traditional Council announced the deployment of a Sanitation Task Force to ensure compliance with the directive. The Communication Director of Zoomlion expressed disappointment over the lack of interest from some traders in contributing to the city’s cleanliness. “It’s disheartening to see parts of the trading community showing little enthusiasm for such an important initiative,” he noted.
The Homowo clean-up exercise is a crucial step towards maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in Accra, and the involvement of all citizens is vital for its success. The Ga Traditional Council hopes that this collective effort will set a precedent for future community-driven initiatives.
