Can Traditional Markets be improved through transportation service: (The case of Asesewa and Agormanya Traditional Markets, Ghana)

Traditional markets have played significant function as the main source of livelihood and development of rural space. The attractions of population and economic activities to markets centres have enhanced the growth of localities into high order functions. Traditional markets focus mainly on agriculture produce. In spite of the considerable effort of traditional market towards rural development, it’s faced with numerous challenges.

The study examined the nexus existing between road transportation and traditional markets. The study focused on two traditional markets the Agormanya and Asesewa markets in Ghana. The study adopted the case study approach and using data from one hundred and seventy-eight (178) respondents it was observed that the two markets exhibited characteristics of traditional markets for the reason that they trade mainly in agriculture produce. It is also conspicuous from the study that there is a strong linkage between road transportation and traditional markets but has not been managed effectively for the past decades for the realisation of optimal benefit for rural welfare. It was found out that due to the poor nature of roads in the study area, travel time is very long as a result traders pay high prices for the transportation of goods from the production centres to the markets.

Although these two markets have existed and contributed to rural development for decades, lip-service has been paid to physical infrastructure improvement and maintenance. In Agormanya, the market is deficient of a proper drainage system, a school, potable water, storage facilities, and electricity service for evening transactions and poor linkages for transport service to and from the market. The situation in Asesewa market is not far from Agormanya market.

The study recommends among others the constructions of roads from highly dominant agriculture production centres to traditional markets and the maintenance of major roads linking communities and traditional markets. Traditional markets infrastructure must be given a facelift to enable traditional markets to provide the necessary catalyst for improved rural livelihood and improved agriculture activities to ensure the sustainability of traditional markets.