Dome Market in the Dome Kwabenya Constituency is set to receive much-needed improvements following a visit by the Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Hon. Rita Naa Odoley-Sowah, on Friday, March 14, 2025. This visit was in direct response to concerns raised by market women about infrastructural and operational difficulties hampering their businesses.
The engagement follows a high-level meeting between the market women and the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, on Thursday, March 13. Led by Ing. Dr. Desmond Aryee-Boi of the Resource Mobilisation Foundation (RMF), the traders highlighted pressing issues such as severe flooding due to an inadequate drainage system, a lack of sheds and stalls, and poor sanitation. The traders lamented that during heavy rains, the market becomes virtually unusable, making it difficult for them to operate. They also decried the scarcity of accessible and affordable trading spaces.
In response, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim tasked the Deputy Minister, the Dome Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Hon. Elikplim Akurugu, and other key stakeholders to visit the market to assess the situation firsthand. Ing. Dr. Aryee-Boi accompanied the team to provide expert insights into the market’s challenges, ensuring that the concerns of the traders were fully understood by the officials.
Upon arrival, the delegation witnessed the market’s dire state. They noted that many constructed stalls remained locked due to high rental costs or had been allocated to individuals who do not actively trade in the market, leaving many spaces unoccupied while genuine traders struggled for room. The drainage system was found to be highly inadequate, exacerbating the problem of flooding during rainy periods. Additionally, sanitation facilities were in poor condition, raising health concerns.
The Deputy Minister and the MP acknowledged the gravity of the situation and assured the market women that immediate steps would be taken to rectify the challenges. The government has committed to upgrading the drainage system to prevent recurrent flooding, constructing more accessible and affordable stalls for traders to operate without hindrance, improving sanitation facilities to ensure a healthier market environment, and reviewing stall allocation processes to ensure that legitimate traders have access to available spaces.
These interventions are expected to commence soon, with a phased implementation plan to ensure lasting solutions.
The planned facelift of Dome Market is a significant step toward improving the livelihoods of the traders and enhancing the overall functionality of one of the constituency’s major economic hubs. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing a supportive business environment for market women, recognizing their role in local economic development.
Source: Sandra Owusu Asamoah/ Melody Hini-Amoako
(Public Relations Unit MLGDRD)