The Ga West Municipal Assembly on Thursday held a meeting with the onion sellers' association of the Kotoku market. The meeting, which was to discuss the future management of Kotoku Market, began with a short prayer.

 Representatives from the Assembly and leaders of the Onion Sellers Associations were present. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) was absent due to being engaged at the Flat Staff House in connection with a recent plane crash incident and had delegated the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD) Isaac Kwakye to lead the session.

During the opening remarks, the MCD, Mr. Isaac Kwakye, explained that the meeting’s purpose was to deliberate on the Assembly’s plans to:

• Collect rent from shops, sheds, and lorry park operations.
• Collect taxes from traders.
• Complete uncompleted sheds within the market.
• Address pressing sanitation issues, such as the provision of waste bins and toilet facilities.
• Number all temporary structure.

He emphasised that when the Assembly assumes direct management of Kotoku Market, it will deliver on these responsibilities and assured them that he would note all discussions and inform the Municipal Chief Executive accordingly.

The Deputy Director of the Assembly, Mr. Julius Azumah, spoke next. He clarified that the Assembly’s intention was not to compete with market operators but to work together to develop the facility. He disclosed the proposed rent for the 95 shops at the market which are grouped into three categories:

Category A: Shops along the main road – proposed rent ¢ 550/month.

Category B: Middle section shops – ¢ 500/month.

Category C: Back section shops – ¢ 450/month.

For sheds, he explained that the larger ones which are classified as stores would pay a rent of

¢ 150/month. Every trader would also be required to pay ¢ 150 annual trader permit and pay a¢ 2.00 daily toll.

Regarding lorry park tolls, the proposal was:

¢ 2 for “trotros”, taxis, tricycles, and Kia vans per trip.

¢ 100 for tipper trucks.

¢ 130 for trailers.

Mr. Azumah also urged the leaders to make an account on the rents collected since 2021 and handover to the Assembly. He announced that all temporary structures would be numbered and assigned specific rates.

During the open discussion, Alhaji Issah Mumuni, a leader of the Onion Sellers Association, welcomed the idea of working with the Assembly but raised several concerns. He noted that the market had been expected to host yam and tomato sellers alongside onion traders to attract more customers, but this had not happened. As a result, customer traffic had declined, some traders had moved back to their former locations, and sales had dropped. He therefore proposed ¢ 150 monthly rents instead of the Assembly’s proposed rates.

He further suggested that women who buy onions in bulk for resale should pay ¢ 1.00 for daily toll instead of ¢ 2 and requested for a relocation of the car park to free up space for customers’ private vehicles.

Other members echoed calls for reduced taxes, while some revealed they were merely occupying sheds without any rental agreement with the Assembly.

The Onion Sellers Association expressed concern that market business was slow and that poor road conditions posed a safety hazard. They explained that the potholes within the market area often caused vehicles transporting onions to lose balance and, in some cases, topple over. They therefore appealed to the Assembly to urgently fill the potholes to prevent accidents.

On the issue of waste management, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer (MEHO) noted that the Assembly had already provided two large waste bins for the market. He stated that consultations would be held with stakeholders to determine the most suitable locations for the bins, after which the Assembly would arrange for regular waste collection.

The meeting ended with an understanding that the Onion Sellers Association would review their proposals and provide feedback. The Assembly expressed commitment to improving market facilities, ensuring better sanitation, and fostering a collaborative relationship with stakeholders.

Source: Dorcas Asantewaa Osei, GWMA-ISD.