This will lead to an increase in the number of patrons to the market. There will also be the creation of opportunities for local businesses, and support for business opportunities for entrepreneurs, and increasing growth of existing businesses.
Madam Helena Andoh, Chairperson of the Takoradi Market Women Association, in an interview with the Western File, said if the environment at the market was safe, its members would expand their businesses, leading to the creation of more jobs, as well as revenue for the STMA.
She explained that all kinds of economic activities go on in and around the Takoradi Market Circle. Currently, the market is surrounded by large underground drains, which are to dispose of liquid waste from the market.
However, she said, these gutters were often chocked by solid waste, and if not cleared, resulting in flooding around the market, making it impossible for vehicles to move around it.
"Against this situation of mounting waste production, the Metropolitan Assembly seems unable to organise adequate collection and safe disposal of waste within our jurisdiction," she added.
She pointed out that as a result, the Takoradi Market was saddled with a serious solid waste problem, which threatens public health and the environment.
There are visible indiscriminate littering, waste-clogged drains and water bodies, as well as stinking gutters.
"So many interventions have been made which have not yielded any fruitful results. At the moment, the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund is supporting in training our members on how to advocate on the situation for a healthy and conducive environment for all."
It would be recalled that one Prof. Augustus Addae-Mensah, a Civil Engineer and former lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in an open letter to the STMA, suggested the immediate closure of some portions of the Takoradi Market Circle structure, which have serious cracks, to avoid disaster.
"My urgent appeal to the city engineers is to recommend an immediate closure of certain portions of the structure, and evacuation of all traders for immediate rehabilitation and repair works to be carried out," he said.
He attributed the deplorable condition of the market and private buildings in the twin city to lack of maintenance and supervision, as well as salt moisture content that had diffused profusely into the concrete structures resulting in the rusting of iron bars.
Mr. John Analatei Laste, Public Relations Officer of the STMA, in reaction to these issues, said "the Environmental Department was aware of these challenges at the market - - we are doing everything possible to ensure sanity at the market.
"I will also urge the market superintendents to refer any challenge they are facing at the market to the appropriate authority."
On some portions of the market which need repair, he said the Works Department of the assembly had completed the estimate, and "we are going to award the contract for those areas to be repaired as a short term measure to improve conditions at the market."
He concluded that there would be the redevelopment of the Takoradi Market, which will be a long term project. "We are looking at the Public Private Partnership (PPP)," he concluded.