Traders in the Ho Central Market are planning to demonstrate in protest over what they describe as the "bad" state of the market. Madam Evelyn Okang, the acting Market Queen stated this when Mama Attratoh II, Queen of Ho-Dome, toured the market to have first hand information on the state of the market. Madam Okang said the market was without a toilet, a warehouse, potable water and security lights, amenities the Ho Municipal Assembly had kept promising to deliver for a long time. She said currently people were defecating in the empty sheds at the market and goods were being pilfered at night due to the absence of security lights. Madam Okang threatened that the traders n the market may have to take over the market from the Municipal Assembly to manage. "For over a decade, we have been living with the "promise and fail," "promise and fail," style of the authorities, but now we can't take it any longer. We will have to cry loud for the world to hear us," Madam Okang said. She said leadership of the market managed to construct a pavement at the market to the tune of over GH¢10,000 but the Assembly is yet to refund the amount and the time had come for them to act. Madam Okang also complained about the Assembly's inability to compel traders selling on pavements and at the fringes of the market, even around rubbish dumps, to move into the market, a situation which was making the market ungovernable. Mama Attratoh appealed to the traders to exercise restraint, while she liaised with the Regional Police Command to ensure discipline and order at the market. Mamaga Akua Dei II, Paramount Queen of Asogli Traditional Area who was later briefed about the state of the market, described the situation as worrying and appealed to stakeholders to do something about the market. "We hope the government will act promptly to rebuild the market in time to befit the status of a regional capital," she said. When contacted Mr Isaac Kodobisah, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, said a demonstration was uncalled for because all the challenges outlined were captured for redress this year. "They are our very priorities and as I speak to you, we are signing a memorandum of understanding this month under the Ghana Urban Management Project for the reconstruction of the market," he said. "We are on top of the situation just that money is not available for us to do everything at a go," he said. Source: GNA