Ayawaso West Assembly cracks down on unauthorised market near Villagio

The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly Task Force has dealt with the establishment of an unauthorized market at the Tetteh Quashie Roundabout near Villagio. This action follows the demolition of the Tetteh Quarshie Art Market and adjacent businesses, which occurred in March 2026 without warning and left traders confused and outraged.

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Yussif Jajah, had previously condemned the demolition, urging a thorough investigation. Since then, affected artisans have faced financial hardships, mounting debts, and struggling sales. The Assembly had previously relocated the traders to a temporary site near the original location, but they expressed concerns about low patronage and difficulties during the rainy season.

They also demanded compensation and a permanent trading space. One trader even lost more than GH¢30,000, while a master carver accumulated over GH¢50,000 in debt after taking out credit for his stock. The Assembly's Deputy Director for Technical, Eric Adjei Affum, confirmed that they are providing relief packages for affected traders, although the assistance wouldn't fully reimburse their losses.

The emergence of this new unauthorized market has reignited debates about informal trading and the use of public spaces in the area. The region surrounding the Tetteh Quashie interchange and Villaggio has long been a hotbed for various forms of informal commercial activity, such as street vending and makeshift trading structures.

Hence, the Assembly's recent intervention is part of their ongoing efforts to curb unauthorized developments and activities within the municipality. In October 2025, the Assembly arrested four individuals who attempted to interfere with a demolition exercise near the Bawaleshie traffic light, claiming to be national security operatives.

Furthermore, the Assembly has issued notices to the owners of unapproved developments, urging them to regularize their building permits or face demolition and prosecution for non-compliance. However, the latest action at Tetteh Quashie raises a similar question for authorities: how to enforce planning regulations while simultaneously addressing the livelihoods of traders who rely on informal spaces for their businesses.