The town of Amanokrom in the Akuapem North Constituency came alive on Saturday, March 29, as it hosted the maiden edition of the Ofie Market, a local trade fair aimed at connecting farmers directly with consumers.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Member of Parliament, Sammi Awuku, drew massive patronage and widespread commendation from farmers, traders, and residents alike.

The market saw an impressive turnout, with fresh produce, grains, vegetables, and other locally made goods selling out quickly. For many of the participating farmers and traders, it was a breakthrough moment after months of struggling with limited market access and post-harvest losses.

“I haven’t sold this much in a long time,” one trader exclaimed.

“We can only thank Sammi Awuku for this. I am pleading that he makes this a regular event—maybe every two weeks.”

A local farmer, overwhelmed by the demand, added, “This has been a great relief for us. We often experience post-harvest losses because we lack access to buyers. God bless Sammi Awuku for us. My produce was finished in the truck before we could even offload.”

Consumers also expressed satisfaction with the quality, quantity, and affordability of the goods on sale.

A shopper who traveled from Accra remarked, “This is a brilliant initiative. I got everything I planned to get and even more. I believe I have enough to last my family for the next month.”

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, Hon. Sammi Awuku shared the inspiration behind the initiative.

“During my campaign rounds last year, I realized that we had a significant number of farmers, especially in the southern part of the constituency near the lower hills. Many of them expressed concern over post-harvest losses and the meager income they make from the few goods they manage to sell,” he said.

“This Ofie Market is my response to that need. I am particularly pleased with what I’m seeing here today. I hope that our hardworking farmers will be encouraged to increase their yields to meet the growing demand we’ve created. We intend to hold this market on the last Saturday of every month. So the next Ofie Market will be on the 26th of April, 2025.”

The initiative also received strong backing from traditional leadership.

The Chief of Amanokrom, Nana Osim Kwatia II, lauded the MP’s vision and the positive economic ripple effects the event had on the town.

“This is a great initiative,” the Chief stated.

“May God bless our son, Sammi Awuku, for this effort. Beyond the market sales, it has also brought some economic activity to our town. I see food vendors and other small businesses also benefitting. Let’s all work hard to sustain this.”

With its strong debut, the Ofie Market is poised to become a transformative platform for agribusiness and grassroots economic empowerment in Akuapem North.

Traders, farmers, and residents are already looking forward to the next edition.