Traders operating at the temporary Takoradi Market Circle site are demanding urgent government intervention over prolonged delays in completing the Takoradi Market Circle redevelopment project, five years after their relocation.

In a press release issued by the “Concerned Traders of Takoradi Central Market,” the group described their current situation as harrowing, stating that the extended delay has caused them severe financial and emotional distress.

The traders were relocated from the old market to a temporary site at the Ghapoha Junior Club House area after the previous NPP government announced that the original structure was weak and required redevelopment.

Although they were assured the project would be completed within two years, the market remains unfinished five years later. Furthermore, the traders alleged that many individuals spent between GH¢400 and GH¢1,000 to secure structures at the temporary site, while others invested additional personal funds to construct their own stores.

The group also raised concerns regarding the quality and safety of the new structure. They claimed to have gathered information indicating that parts of the facility are being coated with anti-rust materials due to its proximity to the sea.

According to the traders, the salty nature of goods sold in the market, particularly salt and salted fish, could worsen corrosion and pose future structural risks.

Consequently, they are appealing to President John Dramani Mahama, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Member of Parliament for Takoradi, Kobina Okyere Darko-Mensah, to provide a clear timeline for the project's completion.

The traders emphasized that the delay has taken a heavy toll on those affected, claiming that some traders have died while others have become bedridden due to the economic hardships associated with the relocation.

The €48 million Takoradi Market Circle redevelopment project commenced in April 2020 with the expectation of transforming one of the oldest commercial hubs in the Western Region into a modern trading centre.

The planned facility includes the construction of more than 2,400 stores, restaurants, bulk-breaking areas, offices, a police and fire station, a clinic, a daycare centre, and parking facilities.

Government officials have recently reiterated their commitment to completing the project after work stalled for years due to financial challenges and debt restructuring. During an inspection tour in November 2025, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson assured traders that the project had been captured as a government priority and that the contractor was expected to return to the site once the debt restructuring process was concluded.

Additionally, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, disclosed earlier this month that the project was approximately 81.62 percent complete before work was suspended.