OFFICIAL MEDIA LAUNCH OF THE HYGEINE AND SOCIAL DISTANCE IN THE MARKETS IN KUMASI

The Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation and MasterCard Foundation, an NGO, has partnered the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to officially launch a project dubbed “Safe Trade” which seeks to ensure that the Covid-19 hygiene and social distance protocols were adhered to at the various markets in Kumasi recently.

According to Fred Frimpong, the representative of MasterCard Foundation, the foundation was a non-governmental organization that supported the vulnerable through partnerships with local authorities.

He said the Foundation was partnering the KMA through supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) such as Veronica buckets, washing basins, sanitizers, nose masks, and sensitization on the adherence of the Covid-19 protocols in the various markets in the City to augment the KMA’s efforts.

He noted that the executives of the foundation and Nananom, including Lady Julia, would go down to the various markets to educate the market women on the need to protect themselves by adhering to the protocols since they were part of the essential services in the city.

Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, the MCE of Kumasi, who launched the project, said he was grateful to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation and MasterCard Foundation for the partnership.

He said the partnership was timely in the wake of the market women’s persistence to adhere to the corona virus hygiene protocols in the markets as directed by the government through the KMA. 

The MCE noted that the Environmental Health Unit of the KMA would also be agents of change in the various markets within the metropolis since according to him, education on the protocols were prudent in the local markets. 

Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi elaborated a number of programmes and projects that the KMA had embarked on during the outbreak of the deadly corona virus. Chief among them according to him includes the inauguration of the Metro Emergency Health Committee, presentation of personal protective equipment, veronica buckets, basins, liquid soap, sanitizers and foodstuffs to various entities. 

He added that the various markets were also disinfested during the partial lockdown, and the recent launch of the Anti-Stigma Campaign on Covid-19. 

He subsequently appealed to the petty traders and the market women to as a matter of fact respect and not flout the directives from Manhyia Palace, if not that of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, as had been the case.

Mrs. Awotwe, a board member of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Charity Foundation explained why it was important for the market women to wear the nose mask, wash their hands with soap under running water, and adhere to the social distancing protocols. 

Some of the markets to benefit from the projects includes the Kumasi Central Market, Nana Afia Kobi Market, Race Course Market, and the Bantama Market.