Traders at Accra’s Odawna Peace Market have raised alarm over a stalled $43 million construction project along the Odaw River, warning that the unfinished works are causing severe business disruptions and financial losses.
The project, originally initiated under former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah, was designed to modernize the river and address persistent flooding and sanitation challenges. However, traders say work was halted midway, leaving the site in a deteriorated condition that has blocked key access routes to the market.
Vendors report that customer traffic has sharply declined due to the obstruction, resulting in spoilage of perishable goods and reduced sales. “We are really suffering because of this project. Customers are avoiding the market because they have to go through longer routes,” one trader lamented.
The situation reportedly worsened ahead of the last general elections when contractors returned to the site and excavated a large trench, further limiting market accessibility.
Market leaders, including executive Elizabeth Shasha Okley, are appealing to President John Dramani Mahama and relevant state agencies to intervene promptly, either by completing the project or restoring safe access to the market.
Traders have warned that if the matter is not addressed urgently, they may resort to public demonstrations to draw attention to the crisis.
The Odawna area remains a key commercial hub in Accra, and vendors insist that resolving the stalled project is critical to sustaining economic activity and protecting the livelihoods of countless market operators.
