Market women in Bibiani, a major town in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region, are appealing for urgent intervention to secure a permanent trading space after years of instability and displacement.

The traders, who mainly sell food staples like plantain, say their businesses have been in limbo since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were initially relocated from the Bibiani market to a temporary site at Lineso to comply with safety protocols.

However, a dispute with the landowner at the temporary location forced them to return to their former site—a move that local authorities have opposed.

The ongoing tussle has left the traders without a secure or designated location for their operations. Some report significant losses due to low patronage, while others say the uncertainty has disrupted supply from farmers and wholesalers. Many fear constant harassment and the risk of eviction.

“We just want a place where we can trade without fear,” one of the traders lamented. “Every day we come here unsure if we’ll be sacked.”

The affected market women are now calling on the Municipal Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament for the area to intervene and allocate a permanent market space.

According to them, such a step would not only safeguard their livelihoods but also bring order and stability to trading activities in the town.