Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, launched the exercise in Accra last Friday, after consultation with traders.

“They (traders) have all agreed on Monday (March 23) and I am happy. They all see that there is expediency in the matter and we have to do it quick,” the minister had said at the launch.

Yesterday, 137 markets within the 29 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region, grouped into six zones, were covered in the exercise undertaken by some 1,300 sprayers.

Satisfaction

Officials of the assemblies which manage the markets and the traders who operate in the facilities said they were satisfied with the exercise.

Although the exercise was targeted at the markets, it had an extended impact on general economic activities in the national capital.

Quite unlike the first working day of the week, Accra was virtually deserted, as many shops were closed, while the usually busy roads were virtually deserted.

All the markets will be reopened today.

Accra

Desmond Kofi Tawiah reports that some of the notable markets covered were Agbogbloshie, Sabon-Zongo, Sukura, Adabraka, Kaneshie, as well as the Neoplan Bus Terminal at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) was directly in charge of operations, supported by a team
from the National Mosquito Control Programme (NAMCOP), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group and a team of soldiers.

No fumigation

Briefing the media before the commencement of the exercise, the Chief Executive of the AMA, Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, said it was not a fumigation exercise, as had been widely reported, but rather a disinfestation exercise.

“Fumigation is done to kill rodents, but disinfestation means you are using chemicals to kill viruses and bacteria, which is being done all over the world,” he explained.

Mr Sowah noted that the exercise was being done with strict compliance to World Health Organisation (WHO) procedures and protocols.

“The military is also providing operational guidance. We are in an emergency situation of fighting the COVID-19. This is a government project and we want to make sure it is done successfully. We are not taking any chances at all,” he added.

At each of the markets, sanitation officers, in full working gear, moved straight into action with their spraying guns and sprayed disinfectants at the markets, as well as into the surrounding gutters.

There was full compliance by traders.

Remarks

After the exercise, a member of the disinfestation team, Mr Jonathan Aboagye, said everything went on successfully, as the team was able to discharge its duties effectively, without any interference by market women or residents of the communities.

On some of the challenges the team encountered, he said the distance between their assembling point and the point of discharge of the logistics was far and, as a result, the team could not start early.

“This is a challenge that was bound to happen. Since this is the first time on this particular issue, we believe it is still a learning process for us and we will continue to learn. We earmarked 137 markets within the 29 MMDAs in Accra,” he added.

Other markets

From Ada, Benjamin Xornam Glover writes that the exercise started about 11 a.m. due to the late arrival of chemicals and other logistics.

Vector control officers moved into the three markets at Kasseh, Ada Foah and Big Ada to spray various parts, including the surrounding drains.

Some of the traders at the Kasseh Market, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, bemoaned the late start of exercise, explaining that they had expected the officials to embark on the exercise at dawn to prevent the chemical from being drifted to non-targeted areas by the wind.

That notwithstanding, they expressed appreciation to the authorities for the exercise, which they described as timely, in view of the devastating effects of the COVID-19.

Madam Dede Dugbatey, a trader, was of the view that time was of essence and the organisers should have taken that into consideration to achieve better results.

She, however, welcomed the exercise.

The Market Queen at the Kasseh Market, Mrs Ernestina Narteh Dede, expressed joy for the exercise and thanked the government for intervening to make the markets safe for traders.

Precautions

The District Chief Executive for Ada East, Ms Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, said the Kasseh Market was heavily patronised and, therefore, disinfecting it was in order, as it would save people from contracting diseases.

She said as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the assembly had procured a number of Veronica buckets and soap to be placed at vantage points in three markets in the district to encourage people to wash their hands frequently.

She added that environmental health officers had also been dispatched to the various markets to sensitise the traders to the need to adhere to preventive measures against the COVID-19.

The Ada East District Environmental Health Officer, Mr Frank Opoku Abima, explained that the residual value of the chemical used for the spraying was 12 hours and assured patrons of the market of the safety of food items when trading activities resume today.

Sege

In Sege, the DCE for Ada West, Mr Adzoteye Lawer Akrofi, led a taskforce from the assembly to conduct the disinfestation exercise.

He said the assembly would sustain the campaign by spraying other public places, such as churches, hospitals and lorry parks, to stop the spread of diseases.

Prampram

In the Ningo-Prampram District, there was total compliance with the directive to shut stalls and stores, as the traders collaborated with the assembly for the exercise to take place.

The DCE, Mr Jonathan Doku, said it was gratifying that people complied with the directives set out for the exercise.

He said the assembly had advised hoteliers in the district, especially those along the coast, to observe the preventive measures outlined by health authorities.