Shop owners at Nungua Market in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region have opposed plans to demolish their shops as part of a proposed redevelopment into a 24-hour market.
The Nungua Market Shop Owners Association, representing about 250 members, says the proposed demolition could destroy significant private investments and disrupt the livelihoods of hundreds of traders.
In a statement following a meeting on 31 August 2026, the association said its members had unanimously rejected the demolition of shops they had either purchased or helped finance.
The shop owners said many had invested substantial amounts of money in their businesses and regarded their shops as long-term investments rather than temporary trading spaces.
They also expressed concern about the proposed construction period, which they said could last two years or more. According to the association, such a prolonged disruption would deprive traders of their main source of income.
The association said the impact could be particularly serious for women traders, including household breadwinners and single mothers who depend on their businesses to support children and other dependants.
Another concern is the financial commitments of shop owners. The association said some members have bank loans and other financial obligations linked to their businesses and could struggle to meet repayments if their shops are closed for an extended period.
The traders also warned that relocating temporarily could create additional costs. They may have to rent alternative shops and storage facilities, transport their goods and rebuild their customer base while construction is under way.
A major point of contention is what the association describes as the absence of a clear relocation arrangement for existing shop owners.
The group says proposed relocation discussions appear to focus mainly on tabletop traders, while there is no sufficiently clear or secured alternative arrangement for those who own or operate permanent shops.
The shop owners are also questioning whether complete demolition is necessary.
They say the existing market, which they estimate to be about 20 years old, remains functional and, in their view, is not so structurally deteriorated that total demolition should automatically be regarded as the only option.
They have called for consideration of alternatives, including possible phased redevelopment, if technically feasible.
The association has also raised concerns about ground rent and maintenance.
It says shop owners have continued to pay annual ground rent since the Nungua traditional authorities assumed management of the market in 2021, but argues that limited maintenance has been carried out during that period.
The traders say they should not bear the consequences of what they consider inadequate maintenance.
The proposed redevelopment forms part of the wider effort to establish markets capable of supporting Ghana’s 24-hour economy. The Krowor Municipal Assembly has been engaging stakeholders over plans for a 24-hour economy model market at Nungua Sookpoti Market, with proposed facilities including shops, stalls, warehouses, restaurants, cold stores and other services.
The redevelopment plans have generated broader discussions about how modern market infrastructure can be provided while protecting existing traders and businesses.
The shop owners’ association says it is not opposed to development that benefits Nungua. Its principal concern is the potential loss of investments and livelihoods without adequate safeguards.
The association is calling for meaningful consultation with existing shop owners, a comprehensive relocation plan, protection of private investments and clear arrangements for businesses affected by the redevelopment.
It says the proposed demolition should be cancelled unless these concerns are properly addressed.
The dispute highlights a wider challenge facing urban redevelopment projects: how to modernise public commercial spaces while ensuring that people who currently depend on those spaces are not left without livelihoods.
For the Nungua shop owners, the central issue is whether the proposed 24-hour market can be delivered without placing the financial and social cost of redevelopment disproportionately on existing traders.
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