Controversy Hangs Over the Relocation of the Gbarnga Central Market; as Marketers Complain about Lack of Safety and Nepotism
By: Matalay Kollie matalaykollie0@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Bong County: In the wake of relocating the Gbarnga Central Market, several complaints are coming in from local marketers about the reported “Insecure nature of the new market site and nepotistic acts” orchestrated against them by the leadership of the Marketing Association.
The current location of the new Gbarnga Central Market is surrounded by a large river and residential buildings including government and religious instructions.
Over many years, marketers in Gbarnga, surrounding towns and villages have carried out daily commercial activities at the regular general market located between the Gbarnga Broad Street and the GST Road.
Some years back in 2016, during the last regime of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf construction of a new site for the relocation of the Gbarnga Central Market was initiated, as done in other commercial cities of Liberia including Ganta, Nimba County.
The construction work by then did not come to completion until former President Sirleaf was succeeded in 2017 by the past immediate regime of George Weah. Lately, under the administration of former President George Weah, the completion of the project began and is currently nearing full completion.
A few weeks ago, the Gbarnga Marketing Association, under the leadership of Madam Tumu Allen as marketing superintendent, made a pronouncement about the relocation of the daily market, informing every marketer to begin purchasing table and shop spots at the new facility for an amount of five thousand Liberian dollars (5,000LD).
Madam Allen’s pronouncement about the relocation of the market sparked huge debate among the Marketing Association and its local marketers, with many arguring about the current location of the facility not being conducive for the well-being of their kids and marketers on grounds. They stress that the Jor River that flows beneath the facility serves as a complete death trap for their kids.
The Gbarnga marketers have earlier pleaded with the association to see a reason to fence the parameters of the facility for the safety and well-being of marketers and other community residents, an appeal that is yet to be addressed.
They also complained about the five thousand Liberian dollars cost of a single spot by the association as huge. An amount many said they are unable to afford in due time because of the harsh economic situation in the country.
Moreover, some local sellers that spoke with Women’s TV said the situation is causing serious problems for them to acquire spots at the new market site, as front views are now being sold to individuals who already have stores and shops on the Gbarnga Main Street.
They also alleged that the association headed by Madam Tumu Allen is currently prioritizing big hands (those with financial strength) over local marketers in obtaining spots at the site of the new market facility.
Meanwhile, the marketers are therefore calling on the government of President Joseph Boakai to quickly intervene in the matter and have it settled, threatening to be intolerant to vacate the current market site if the association cannot prioritize their interest by giving them front spots at the facility.
Responding to the marketer’s claims, Madam Tumu Allen asserted that the Marketing Association can not be blamed because the local marketers had earlier refused to be relocated. She added that those who want to sell in the new market are the ones purchasing spots, noting that everyone is a resident of the county and must be treated equally.
“We had earlier informed the marketers about relocating to the new market and they refused to take our instructions, so those who wanted spots were willing to pay the money we charged them, so spots were given to them. I cannot identify who they referred to as money people or store owners everyone has the same right and should be treated equally.” Madam Allen told our reporter.
