Makola 2 Traders Protest Steep Rent Hikes(Shops Closed, SSNIT Urged to Rethink Fees)
Traders at Makola No. 2 Market in central Accra have closed their shops to protest sharp rent increases and an extra 20% fee imposed by the market’s managers, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). The protest, which started early on Thursday, February 26, stopped businesses from running because many stalls were closed. Traders said the new fees were sudden and unfair, especially since the facility had not been renovated or improved. Some vendors told Citi News that the increase has put a lot of financial strain on them, going from GH₵25,000 last year to GH₵36,000 this year. They also said that if the government doesn’t step in, the extra charges could put many of them out of business.
