Traders at Ashaiman Main Market in the Greater Accra Region have staged a protest against the John Mahama-led government’s decision to redevelop the facility into a modern 24-hour market.
According to the traders, they want the government to clarify its plans, arguing that the redevelopment plans could lead to traders being displaced.
The Market Queen Mother of Ashaiman, identified as Leiticia Ayaba, asserted that the tension is due to a lack of adequate consultation about the redevelopment plan.
The Market Queen stressed that after market leaders met with the DCE to raise concerns, however, no concrete engagement followed, with traders feeling their voices were ignored.
One trader speaking during the protest stated, “All we want is for the government to renovate the market and provide basic utilities. Demolishing the market would not help us. If it is destroyed, how will we survive with our children? We have nowhere else to go. We are pleading with the government—please, we need renovation and proper services in the market,” he said.
Another stated, “At the old Mandela Market, many stores have been built, but very few are in use. We cannot afford to purchase them, and building stores will not help us. I sell plantain, and we cannot store it in a shop because it will spoil. All we are asking for is renovation of the existing market,” he said.
One more trader added. “Mr President, we beg you. In the name of God, we are pleading with you. We only need renovation. Nothing else. That is all we are asking for,” he said.
Meanwhile, the proposed Ashaiman Main Market redevelopment forms part of the NDC market transformation agenda promised ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Some netizens reacting to the news stated, “You can’t use democracy to develop a country. Anyone should prove to me”.
Another X user added, “Oh my people don’t let Kasoa people see this oo Anyway, Sensitisation and open forum to address their concerns. The majority are those without an appropriate shop or sales point allocation, some run shifts due to congestion. I never knew until I forgot to pay for some goods 😁took me 2 weeks to get the woman. They must be assured”.
“Listen, they can cry all they want, this NDC government will build Ghana for good and not for a few selfish reasons! NPP; never again !”, a netizen added.
One X user added, “Ghana will one day be forced on the path of nail house syndrome since no one wants to be affected by change. Without change, there’ll be no development”.
“This is an NPP agenda, the same as Miracles Aboagye, who, all of a sudden, is hiding in the forest with cocoa farmers, instigating them against the NDC government”, a netizen claimed.
“For the lack of knowledge, my people perish…” You’re demonstrating against development? What a time to be alive and a Ghanaian? Ridiculous”, one more netizen added.
One last Ghanaian argued, “Listen to their plight carefully. The plan is to redevelop the market (no problem), but where are they supposed to go in the meantime??
When the market is redeveloped, most of these women will not get a stall due to back-door issues.
Are we asking them to go sit at home and wait?”
Watch the video below:
Traders at Ashaiman are protesting against the government's intention of redeveloping of the main market into a modern 24-hour market.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/sznDNjJdOQ
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) February 10, 2026