Minister Advocates Awards Scheme For Market Women

Elizabeth Sackey

Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, Elizabeth Sackey, has urged corporate bodies to consider instituting a special awards scheme aimed at rewarding market women in Ghana.

According to the deputy minister, female traders in the Kaneshie, Makola, Lapaz Markets, among others, equally deserve awards just like their counterparts in the corporate world who are awarded annually for contributing to the growth of Ghana's economy.

The deputy minister disclosed this while speaking to journalists on Thursday in Accra on the sidelines of the launch of the 2018 edition of Market Women's Day Celebrations.

This year's celebration, which is to recognize the contributions of market women in the Greater Accra Region, is under the theme, “Our Market Women: Icons of Indigenous Ghanaian Entrepreneurship.”

She stated that market women have always been the backbone of the economy and as such are very important to the developmental agenda of government.

Deputy Minister Sackey said market women, who appear to be simple, must be appreciated because they make enormous contributions to the wellbeing of Ghanaians.

From paying school fees and medical bills of their children to providing for the general welfare of their homes under scourging sun across markets in Ghana, women entrepreneurs must not be left out in awards at the national and regional levels.

She said awards should be given to outspoken market woman to appreciate women traders.

Earlier, she urged the women to be mindful of their environment and ensure proper sanitation.

She warned them against selling along pavements across the country, urging them to restrict their trading activities to the designated market squares.

Market Women's Day Celebration-Ghana (MWDC-GH), the foundation responsible for organising the Market Women's Day Celebrations on Republic Day of 2017, is in charge of this year's celebration.

In a welcome speech at the launch, J. N. Halm, Director of MWDC-GH, stated that the launch of this year's event was in fulfilment of a commitment the organisation made to the market women of the country to celebrate them every single year.

Mr Halm implored all corporate bodies to take advantage of the sponsorship opportunities available to help make the event a success.

This year's Market Women's Day Celebrations is scheduled for 2^nd July 2018 at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra.

By Melvin Tarlue