Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on market women across the country to take personal responsibility for cleanliness in their trading environments, stressing that sanitation in markets remains critical to healthy living and national well-being.

Speaking at the 65th End-of-Year Gathering and General Meeting of the Greater Accra Market Association in Accra, the Vice President praised the Association for maintaining a clean and orderly setting for the event.

She described the atmosphere as a clear demonstration of the discipline and commitment of market women to proper hygiene.

She encouraged traders to make cleanliness a daily practice rather than an occasional effort, warning that littering and poor waste disposal often lead to clogged drains and flooding, particularly during the rainy season.

Linking sanitation to the event’s theme of healthy living, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang emphasised that economic empowerment must go hand in hand with good health.

She noted that markets are not only centres of commerce but also shared community spaces whose conditions directly affect public health.

She therefore urged traders to lead by example in promoting safe and hygienic environments, saying improved sanitation would protect both livelihoods and the broader community.