[ 2021-03-09 ]

Stop 'examining' foodstuffs before buying them – market women to buyers
he President of the Greater Accra Market Women
Association, Madam Mercy Naa Afrowa Needham, has
appealed to the public to desist from the practice
of physically touching foodstuffs in the markets
to weigh them before buying.
According to her, the practice of physically
turning foodstuffs in-and-out in the market is
unhygienic and could help spread COVID-19,
particularly if the person touching the foodstuff
has the disease.



She said many people who go to the markets to buy
foodstuffs such as cassava continually keep
picking food items to weigh and examine them in
their hands before settling on which one to buy.

Madam Mercy Needham was speaking at an event
organised by the Alliance of Feminists CSOs in
collaboration with Plan International Ghana to
mark this year’s International Women’s Day on
Monday.

The event, which was on the theme: “Women in
Leadership- Achieving Equal Future in a COVID-19
World," brought together leaders and members of
civil society organisations, international
organisations, feminists, politicians and leaders
of state owned institutions and politically
inclined young females, journalists and students.

The programme was also used to deliberate and
propose strategies to reduce the impact of
COVID-19 on women and children especially on girls
in Ghana.



COVID-19 measures

Madam Naa Afrowa Needham said since the COVID-19
pandemic broke out, market women all over the
country have suffered unduly.

She explained that the leadership of the various
market centres across the country in their
attempts to help contain the disease, have ensured
that COVID-19 safety protocols are strictly
adhered to in the markets.


That, she added, aside from ensuring compliance
with the wearing of nose masks and social
distancing, market leaders have also introduced
shift systems to help decongest the markets.

Madam Naa Afrowa Needham said that COVID-19 could
be defeated in the country only if all individuals
play their roles well, by adhering to the safety
protocols.



Education

She also urged parents to prioritise the education
of their children, particularly the girl child,
suggesting that the market centres will no more
accept uneducated people.

She also explained that many formal workers after
retirement join the markets and so the various
markets are becoming a place for the literate and
therefore girls who do not go to school with the
mindset of joining the market will be
disappointed.

Extolling the essence of education, Madam Naa
Afrowa Needham said she personally joined the
market as a professional teacher and her education
has helped a lot in her business, saying that
education in every work is very important.

Source - Graphic Online

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