The Ho municipal assembly in collaboration with Chiefs of the Sokode zonal council in the Ho Municipality of the Volta region have opened a municipal yam market in Sokode zonal market.
The newly opened yam market aimed at expanding yam cultivation and selling in the Municipality to rake more revenue for development.
The market is expected to deal mostly with Konkomba yam variety.
The Sokode zonal market was first an open market inaugurated in March 2021 to serve the people of Sokode and its surrounding communities.
At a very short ceremony with the market women, yam farmers, youths and some officials from the Ho municipal assembly, Chiefs of the Sokode communities appealed to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon. Divine Komla Bosson, to support the market with security lights to safeguard activities in the market at night.
They further called on the Zonal council to seize giving permits to people surrounding the market to help the expansion of the market since the existing space is not large enough.
They also pleaded with the MCE to also share some of the wholesale shops in the Ho central market with Sokode
The further called for a construction of a lorry park in Sokode to serve other communities in traveling to Accra or Ho.
The market Queen, Madam Erica Nfodzo in an interview with IGNEWSS lamented on how the market shades were being given to unknown people who do not come to the market
He said, this development is making it difficult to relocate traders who trade their commodities in open spaces under palm tents leaving the market shades empty.
She also revealed that the toilet facility in the market has also been locked due to inadequate water supply and actions of some notorious youths who broke into the facility to steal some items.
The Queen believed the opening of the yam market will bring many visitors to the market since it is not restricted to Sokode only.
The MCE however assured the community and Chiefs of his readiness to support the growth of the Sokode zonal market especially the sustainability of the yam market.
According to him the assembly has already budgeted for building lockable shops in the market to help secure traders’ products.
He said, the Assembly will also see to the construction of a borehole to help operate the toilet facility in the market.
He also hinted of consulting the assembly Planners to replan the market to have a very good map out or zone the market for future development
He called on the Chiefs to release lands to the Konkombas who are to champion the cultivation and sales of the yams.
He assured that the yam market in the Ho central market would be relocated to Sokode since he has initiated talks with stakeholders of the Assembly’s plan of making Sokode market the yam market in the Municipality.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com
