Market women and traders at the Kejetia Market in Kumasi have appealed for improved sanitation to help curb the spread of diseases among traders and customers.

They said poor sanitary conditions at the market posed serious health risks, attributing the problem to inadequate dustbins, indiscriminate littering, and the improper disposal of waste.

Madam Akosua Birago, a foodstuff seller, told the Ghana News Agency that traders worked from morning till evening under unhygienic conditions that threatened their health.

She noted that waste often piled up at dustbin posts for long periods without being emptied, producing foul smells and attracting insects, which discouraged customers from buying their goods.

Madam Patricia Annor, a food vendor, partly blamed some traders for the situation, saying many failed to sweep their stalls after selling, leaving rubbish scattered around. She urged her colleagues to maintain cleanliness at their trading spots.

A health worker at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Okofo Gyasi Serwaah, explained that poor sanitation could spread airborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid and worsen conditions for asthmatic patients due to the foul odour from piled-up refuse.

She recommended monthly clean-up exercises, public education on hygiene, and the provision of more dustbins across the market.

She also called on the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to employ additional cleaners to ensure regular waste collection and cleanliness at dustbin posts.

According to her, such measures would significantly reduce health risks and create a safer trading environment at the Kejetia Market.