Tomato Importers in Ashaiman Face Harassment from Market Queens, Seek Government Intervention

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Importers of tomatoes from Togo to the Ashaiman main market in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana have been facing constant harassment from market queens, according to reports. For the past three years, these importers, who are mostly market women from the Ada and Ashaiman areas, have been subjected to harassment by market guys on the orders of the market queens.

The victims claim that upon arriving at the Ashaiman market with their goods, the market guys, acting on the instructions of the market queens, seize their goods, sell them, and share the proceeds among themselves without the knowledge or consent of the importers. The reason cited for such actions is the importers’ failure to register with the market queens’ association.

The importers find this requirement absurd, as they believe the market is an open place where anyone should be able to conduct business without being subjected to harassment or forced registration. One of the importers, expressed her frustration in an interview stated  that they do not understand why they are allowed to sell at the Central Market in the Accra metropolis but are denied the same opportunity at the Ashaiman main market. She further revealed that the constant harassment has resulted in the loss of their invested capital and has even led to some importers being arrested and facing persecution by creditors in Togo.

Despite reporting the issue to the appropriate authorities, the importers claim that no action has been taken to address the harassment. As a result, they are now calling on the government to intervene and ensure that they are able to sell their goods freely at the Ashaiman market without facing harassment from the market queens and their agents.

The situation highlights the challenges faced by some importers in the Ashaiman market and the need for intervention to protect their rights and ensure a conducive business environment.

BY:AGRIWATCH REPORTER
SOURCE:CLASSFMONLINE.COM