Doubts are growing over the government’s commitment to reconstruct the Sekondi Market, especially after Member of Parliament Blay Armah Nyameke was seen in a viral video pleading on his knees for the project to be prioritised.
His emotional appeal followed the collapse of one of the market sheds on October 6, which left a trader injured and destroyed goods worth thousands of cedis.
The incident reignited calls for urgent redevelopment, but many residents now question whether the government will follow through.
Earlier this year, the MP announced that Chinese investors had shown interest in the project, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed. Yet, no visible progress has been made since.
Adding to the frustration, former Assembly Member for Asafo Electoral Area, Sampson Kojo Nimako, revealed that a South African investor had also been turned away in 2023.
“The Assembly secured a South African investor to rebuild the market. We called for the designs and interrogated them. But there were concerns, as it did not reflect the concept for a modern market,” he said during an interview.
Sampson K explained that the investor’s model required traders to pay a minimum of GHC500 in monthly rent, a figure he described as unrealistic for local vendors.
He said the Assembly preferred government funding to ensure affordability.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly has included the market’s redevelopment in its 2022–2025 development plan and continues to seek investors through a public-private partnership.
However, with no clear timeline and ongoing challenges at nearby trading centres, residents remain sceptical.
