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Agbogbloshie 24-hour market project followed three months of consultations- AMA
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has rejected claims that traders and other stakeholders affected by the proposed 24-hour market at Agbogbloshie were not consulted before the project.
The Assembly said it had engaged traditional authorities, market leaders, traders, occupants and other stakeholders for more than three months ahead of the project.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the AMA said the consultations were led by the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey.
It explained that the discussions focused on the design of the project, land requirements, the movement of traders, how existing businesses could continue operating and measures to reduce disruption to economic activities.
The Assembly said the consultations included the leadership of the Yam Market, Nzema Market and Cargo Station, among others.
According to the AMA, the Mayor on July 9, 2026, briefed the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, and the Ga Traditional Council on the proposed market, including its land requirements and implementation arrangements.
It said the Mayor subsequently met traders at Agbogbloshie on the same day and introduced the contractor who would be involved in the redevelopment.
The Assembly added that it met the leadership of the Agbogbloshie Yam Market on July 13 to discuss the proposed use of portions of the land currently occupied by the market.
On August 4, the AMA said it again met chiefs and traditional leaders at Agbogbloshie as part of the ongoing consultations under the 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Following that meeting, a nine-member committee was formed to oversee the relevant areas of the project, it added.
The Assembly said it later served a one-month notice, ending on August 31, to traders and occupants in portions of Agbogbloshie identified as part of the project site.
The AMA further disclosed that about four acres of land would be required for the full implementation of the 24-hour market project.
So far, it said, about 3.2 acres had been identified, including three plots covering approximately 0.48 acres within the existing Yam Market area.
The Assembly said the land requirement had been a major issue in its discussions with the Yam Market leadership.
It stressed that the project was not intended to arbitrarily displace traders, but that it was seeking practical arrangements that would allow the redevelopment to proceed while protecting the livelihoods of affected persons.
The AMA disclosed that representatives who took part in the stakeholder meetings received transportation allowances of not less than GH¢3,000 per meeting.
It said stakeholders used the meetings to raise concerns, seek clarification and make proposals on issues including land requirements, the movement of traders and the continuation of business activities.
According to the Assembly, stakeholders have so far agreed on the need for continued dialogue and cooperation throughout the implementation of the project.
It added that there was also an understanding that any arrangements affecting existing traders should be handled through direct engagement with their recognised leadership.
The AMA therefore rejected claims that affected stakeholders had been ignored or excluded from discussions.
It maintained that the record showed a consultation process spanning more than three months and involving several groups and individuals.
The Assembly said the proposed 24-hour market was expected to provide modern infrastructure, support extended commercial activity, improve sanitation and safety, better organise trading and create employment and other economic opportunities in Accra.
It said it would continue engaging the Yam Market leadership, affected traders, traditional authorities and other stakeholders before the main construction works begin.
The AMA urged the public to rely on official information from the Assembly rather than unverified claims about the project.
By: Jacob Aggrey
ODORGONNO Senior High School (SHS) has won the maiden 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards, organised among five SHSs in Accra to promote plastic waste recycling and reuse.
Odorgonno SHS received a cash prize of GH¢8,000 after securing 97 points. Accra Senior High School placed second with 96 points and received GH¢4,000, while O’Reilly SHS placed third with 90 points and received GH¢2,000.
Forces Senior High Technical School placed fourth with 83 points, while St John’s Grammar SHS came fifth with 72 points. Both schools received GH¢1,000 each as cash prizes.
Outstanding students from the participating school clubs were also recognised with gold medals and certificates. St John’s Grammar SHS received five plastic recovery cages as the school with the highest volume of recovered plastic waste.
The awards formed part of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) Schools Plastics Recovery Project, an initiative aimed at promoting plastic waste recovery, responsible environmental practices and the productive use of recovered materials.
The project included educational campaigns in all five participating schools, the provision of metal cages for plastic source segregation, an educational excursion to a Miniplast recycling factory and a plastics challenge that encouraged innovative reuse of plastic waste.
The Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, said the project demonstrated how young people could become active contributors to solving Ghana’s environmental challenges while providing financial incentives to sustain their efforts.
He said when schools generated income from recovered materials, they could support the maintenance of collection infrastructure, reinforce responsible waste management and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Dr Antwi explained that within the first month, the participating schools recovered 1.5 tonnes, or 1,500 kilogrammes, of plastic waste—equivalent to the weight of approximately 15,000 one-litre water bottles.
He said the recovery generated GH¢2,000 in revenue for the schools, demonstrating that plastic waste could become a source of value rather than an environmental burden.
The Group Head of General Operations at OmniBSIC Bank, Mr Dominic Donkoh, urged the participating schools to sustain their plastic waste segregation, collection and sales activities.
He said the proceeds could support school environmental clubs and other worthwhile initiatives while providing students with practical lessons in saving, budgeting and responsible financial management.
“We encourage students to apply the financial literacy lessons acquired during this engagement. Learn to manage the proceeds from your recycling activities responsibly, appreciate the importance of saving, and explore innovative ways to create both environmental and financial value,” he added.
–GNA
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Parents have been urged to prioritise girls’ education over early marriage to protect them from losing their childhood, education and opportunities for a better future.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Girl Child Coordinator, Madam Margaret Blay, said child marriage disrupted girls’ education, threatened their health and well-being, and limited their ability to realise their full potential.
“Keep her in school, not in a man’s house,” she urged parents, stressing the need for families and communities to protect girls’ right to education and personal development.
She made the call in a welcome address at the 2026 celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Madam Blay said ending child marriage required collective action from parents, teachers, traditional leaders, government institutions and communities to ensure that girls were protected and given the opportunity to pursue their aspirations.
She noted that child marriage often forced girls out of school before they were physically, emotionally and socially prepared for the responsibilities associated with marriage.
She said investing in girls’ rights was not merely a moral obligation but also an investment in the future of communities and the nation.
According to her, girls who remained in school, had their voices heard and received the necessary support could grow into leaders, professionals, innovators and active contributors to national development.
Madam Blay called on teachers to protect girls’ access to education, create supportive learning environments and empower them to express themselves confidently.
She also appealed to traditional leaders to help address harmful cultural practices and social norms that denied girls opportunities to develop their potential.
The government and relevant institutions, she said, must strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws to ensure that every girl received adequate protection.
She further urged communities to speak out against child marriage, report cases and work together to create safe environments where girls could learn, grow and thrive.
Madam Blay said every girl deserved the freedom to dream, acquire an education and determine her own future.
She expressed the hope that the celebration would strengthen stakeholders’ collective resolve to end child marriage and invest in the rights, education and future of every girl.
Madam Karen Ama Moses, Assembly Member for the Takoradi Railway and Harbour Electoral Area, said keeping girls in school would lead to enlightened mothers, well-informed families, resilient communities and, ultimately, a better Ghana.
She stressed that no child should be forced into marriage, adding that “every child must have the freedom to learn, grow, dream and choose her future.”
Some of the schoolchildren expressed concern that their parents did not always listen to their concerns during difficult times, while others said some children were exposed to abuse and early marriage.
Madam Henrietta Quabu, the Metropolitan School Health Coordinator, urged children experiencing abuse or any situation that threatened their well-being to report to the police, the Department of Social Welfare, the media, their teachers or the Metropolitan Education Directorate for assistance.
— GNA
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