Mr. David Annan Boney, a financial controller at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and one of the ministry’s three member COVID-19 inspection team who visited the Kwahu West Municipality to ascertain public compliance on the presidential preventive protocols on Friday, has admonished city authorities in the municipality to endeavour to fulfil every bit of promise made to traders during during the decongestion period in order to encourage them to adhere the laid down presidential preventive measures.
“I will like to advise the assembly to ensure that they will do all the promises they have made to the traders, especially those who have been relocated to the new markets because if you give them a promise and you don’t fulfil it, the next time you come and tell them another thing they will not obey it” he said.
According to him, the assembly must try to develop the other portions of the new market annex, in order to make trading a comfortable venture for the residents of the area.
Mr. David Annan Bonney further told the market women that, he and his colleagues have toured several markets in other regions to ensure that there is a general adherence to the government’s laid down protocols, aimed at mitigating the spread of the coronvirus pandemic, such as frequent hand washing and sanitizing, observance to social distancing, wearing of nose masks and staying at home if necessary.
He also indicated that, other markets, where the protocols are being violated have either been closed down or grouped in to rotational colours, all in order to enforce compliance to the measures.
According to the him, the inspection team’s bus has now gotten to the Nkawkaw municipality from Suhum, New Juabeng, Koforidua, Yilo Krobo, Somanya and several other markets in the Eastern Region and will give their advice to the authorities on what their assessment is so far.
Mr. Boney however commended Hon. Yaw Owusu Addo and his COVID-19 emergency committee for the good work done, including the market women for their compliance so far and urged them on.
“I will say that I am very much impressed with the performance of the assembly so far because it is not easy to control market women like this. I will also want to encourage the MCE to keep on relocating a lot more of them to other markets in order to limit the congestion in the central market area. Let me also thank you, the media, for the work done so far and encourage you to do a lot more advocacy” he added.
Mr. Owusu Adjei Francis, the head of communication for the Municipal Public Health Emergency Committee, on his part, thanked the three member inspection team for commending the assembly and assured that, the MCE will lead a competent way to help the market women, all in order to secure every resident of this municipality.
He further noted that, the assembly has issued a communiqué on the importance of wearing the nose masks and will work to ensure full adherence to it.
Story by Nana Kwame Andoh