By Benjamin Makafui Attipoe, Ave Dakpa
Residents of Ave Dakpa in the Akatsi North District of the Volta Region, particularly the youth and market women, have called on the Akatsi North District Assembly to urgently rehabilitate the Ave Dakpa Central Market, describing its deteriorating state as a major setback to the district’s development.
According to the residents, the deplorable condition of the market has negatively affected trading activities, reduced patronage and created an unattractive image for the district capital.
The residents expressed concern that although the Akatsi North District was carved out of the then Akatsi District in 2012, little has been done over the past 14 years to improve the market and other key infrastructure in the district.
A retired civil servant and resident of the area, Mr. Mc Solo Ziddah, called for what he described as a forensic audit into the activities of successive administrations of the District Assembly from 2012 to date, arguing that residents deserve accountability regarding the district’s development.
The Ave Dakpa Central Market, which was formerly situated in the heart of the town, was relocated several years ago to its current site, approximately two kilometres from the township. According to traders, the relocation has made it difficult to transport goods to and from the market, contributing significantly to low patronage.
Although the market occupies about 24 acres of land, residents say it lacks essential infrastructure, including adequate market sheds and stalls, toilet facilities, electricity, potable water, paved walkways and a good access road.
Some market women who spoke to this reporter questioned why government resources earmarked for the proposed 24-hour economy market could not instead be invested in upgrading the existing Ave Dakpa Central Market to better serve traders and the community.
In separate interviews, Miss Kafui Agbesi and Miss Antoinnette Dugborshie said the market women had personally financed the construction of most of the sheds currently in use. They explained that traders who cannot afford to build their own structures are compelled to display their goods on the bare ground under the scorching sun or during rainfall.
The two women also complained that the largely undeveloped and bushy surroundings expose traders to snakes and other reptiles, posing safety concerns and creating an unfavourable trading environment.
They further lamented that the few market stalls and sheds previously constructed by the District Assembly have deteriorated over the years due to poor maintenance.
Speaking on behalf of the youth, Mr. Perry Nyamekor described the state of the market as “disappointing and unacceptable.” He accused the District Chief Executive, Hon. Bless K. Katamani; the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Hon. Patrick Ahiabu; the Member of Parliament for Akatsi North, Hon. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe; the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Chairman, Dr. K. Awudza; and the Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, of neglecting the development of the market after the relocation of the old facility. The individuals mentioned have not publicly responded to these allegations.
Mr. Nyamekor appealed to the government and the District Chief Executive to urgently address the market’s infrastructural challenges, insisting that traders deserve better services in return for the levies and taxes they regularly pay to the Assembly.
Two other opinion leaders, Mr. Collins Ahiagbede and Alhaji Mussah Abdullah Fulabey, who is the Chief Imam of Ave Dakpa, also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the market.
They called on the Akatsi North District Assembly to prioritise the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Ave Dakpa Central Market, saying the intervention would improve trading activities, restore confidence among traders and attract more patrons to the district’s principal market.
