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(MONROVIA-Sept. 9, 2008): A number of recently renovated and constructed market buildings have been dedicated in Monrovia and its surrounding areas. The dedicatory ceremonies an Executive Mansion release says, were spearheaded Tuesday by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, accompanied by leaders of the Liberia Marketing Association, headed by its Interim President Madam Lusu Sloan and superintendent of various markets.
Performing the ceremony, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf thanked the marketers for their cooperation in ensuring the success of the projects. The President also lauded the Head of the Sirleaf Market Women Fund, Dr. Thelma Awori and friendly contributors who provided funding through the Fund for the projects.
The projects, the President said were a private initiative under the Sirleaf Market Women Fund, with financial support provided by friends and well-wishers mainly from the United States, who care about the well-being of Liberian market women.
The Chief Executive pointed out that the renovation and construction of market buildings was in fulfillment of her promise to provide more conducive environment for market women and men throughout the country. She assured them that additional facilities including warehouses, cold storages and playgrounds for children, would be added to markets which lack the facilities, as more funding becomes available. The President also expressed the hope that as additional funds become available, literacy programs would be added to help market women and men acquire basic skills to read and write.
“The work is not finished; we want to work with you to make our markets modern,” The President reminded marketers.
She appealed to them to keep the facilities clean so as to encourage more support from well-wishers, especially foreign friends, who visit the market sites. The Liberian leader also expressed the hope that with the construction and expansion of market buildings, petty traders would take advantage of the facilities and leave the streets to allow for the free flow of traffic. She warned that government will take all necessary measures to ensure that petty traders remain in the market buildings which have been renovated and constructed.
Meanwhile, a section of one of Liberia’s local banks has been opened at the Nancy B. Doe Jorpken Town Market. The Managing Director of Eco-Bank, Madam Morenike Adepoju, said the bank was opening the facility to help provide banking services for market people. She promised that Eco-bank would expand the services to other markets in Monrovia and other parts of the country. President Sirleaf urged the Marketers to take advantage of the services, which she noted will also provide micro credit and other benefits to qualified market women and men.
Markets dedicated included the Nancy B. Doe Jorpken Town market; The Paynesville City Market; the Barnesville Market, and Duala Market. Extensions at the Nancy B. Doe Jorpken town market include a children’s playground, a day care center and an extended facility to accommodate more market stalls, while an extension was added during the renovation of the Duala Market in New Kru Town.
Barnesville Market was built from scratch, under the auspices of the Sirleaf Market Women Fund.
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