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.
Led by Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, in collaboration with the Accra Coordinating Council and Zoomlion, the event aimed to eliminate the city’s accumulated waste.
Traders and buyers from various regions expressed frustration over the unexpected closure. Many were unaware of the scheduled clean-up and were 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 contended that they had already taken part in clean-up activities in their own communities and believed that market vendors 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 stated.
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II stressed the significance of communal involvement in the clean-up initiative to restore Accra’s cleanliness.
“We encourage everyone to participate in this endeavor to restore Accra’s cleanliness,” he emphasized.
Beginning Monday, July 15, the Ga Traditional Council announced the deployment of a Sanitation Task Force to ensure adherence to the directive. Zoomlion’s Communication Director expressed dismay at the lack of interest shown by some traders in contributing to the city’s cleanliness.
“It’s disappointing to see certain segments of the trading community displaying little enthusiasm for such an important initiative,” he observed.
The Homowo clean-up exercise represents a critical initiative in sustaining hygiene and cleanliness in Accra, and the participation of every citizen is essential for its success.
The Ga Traditional Council aims for this collaborative effort to establish a precedent for future community-driven initiatives.
