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Chaos at Suame market as MCE orders shutdown

Chaos at Suame market as MCE orders shutdown

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The Municipal Chief Executive for Suame Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region, Dr Bobie Boahen has ordered the closure of the Suame market following the failure of the market women to comply with the social distancing policy.

The market area was overcrowded on Tuesday March 31 after traders and market women thronged the center in their numbers to engage in buying and selling of food items.

Dr Bobie Boahen explained that as part of the social distancing policy to help in dealing with the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, the market women were divided into two groups.

The groups were to follow a laid down plan to go about their trading activities in the market, however, he said, the market women abused the programme, a situation that is putting their own lives and that of others at risk of contracting the COVID-19.

To that end, he said, he has ordered the closure of that particular market until after a second meeting with the leadership of the market Tuesday afternoon to discuss the matter.

“We realized that the market women were not complying with the social distancing policy so the market has to be closed down,” Dr Bobie told Gh One television.

He further noted that there were other markets nearby that will serve the public after the Suame market has been closed down.

The Queen mother of the Suame Market, Madam Kuffuor, said the decision of the MCE to close down the market was in order.

She said they are all concerned about the health of Ghanaians.

“If the women won’t obey the policy then we are for the closure because we all want to protect ourselves form the COVID-19,” she said.

In announcing a partial restriction of some areas in the country to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo exempted the markets from the restriction.

The president said markets were to ensure social distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols.

“In any event, only persons involved in the food value chain can operate in the markets during this period” the President said.

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Source: ghanaweb.com

Original Story on: GhanaWeb
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