Kotokuraba Market, located in Cape Coast, the capital of the Central Region of Ghana, stands as the largest market in the area and a significant economic hub. Cape Coast is renowned for its UN World Heritage Site, Cape Coast Castle, its reputable senior high schools, and, notably, its bustling market. This market serves as the economic heartbeat of the region, hosting major trading stores and acting as a central point for all trade activities.
The market's strategic location has made it a hotspot for economic activity, drawing businesses closer to buyers. Kotokuraba Market is bordered to the north-west by Mfantsipim School and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation hill.
Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Kotokuraba Market.
Historical Significance and Growth
The Kotokuraba Market has been a vital trading site since the pre-independence era, continually expanding to its present size. Its position made it a hotspot for economic activity, as major activities in the city went on in and around the area. This led to the area quickly filling up with building for stores.
The local name for Cape Coast, "Oguaa," which means "market" in English, underscores the town's historical prominence in the sale of fish, crabs, salt, and other commodities.
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Redevelopment and Modernization
The Mills/Mahama Government secured a Chinese Government concessional loan to redevelop the old Kotokuraba Market into a modern market complex and the old market was pulled down in 2014 for the rehabilitation exercise after the traders had been relocated. The new market complex which comprises shops, supermarkets, office blocks, two banks, a school and a clinic was completed and officially opened by President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, 29th November, 2016 where he assured residents of the Region that the initial traders at the market will have shops allotted to them.
The renovated Kotokuraba market was structured into a three-storey building, featuring stores and sheds of varying sizes, and parking spaces to meet traders’ and consumers’ needs. It was reconstructed in a story-building due to limited land space, to provide a beautiful edifice, and to add modernity to absorb the increasing market population within the Cape Coast Metropolis.
The market comes with other several facilities including a park for over 200 cars, surface and overhead water tanks, a solar system for emergency lighting, and a generator set. In addition, the market has a fire hydrant, public address system, and CCTV cameras for security purposes.
Osabarima Kwesi Atta II the Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area applauded President Mahama for completing the project. “It is a good thing that has happened in Oguaa. About four years ago this place was disorganised. The late President John Atta Mills saw the importance to develop the market. We thank you (President Mahama) and your team for the good work you have done,” he said.
The Kotokuraba market was restructured into a storey building in 2012 to meet the demand of the 2016 land use and spatial planning. The recent urban planning of Ghana requires that the central business district of the urban centers take a story-building style.
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Challenges and Economic Effects of Upper Floor Trading
Despite being one of the most beautiful market edifices in Ghana, the spaces and stalls on the upper floors are unused, leaving many unopened and unoccupied stores, yet the ground floors are highly congested.
This situation is not peculiar to the Kotokuraba market in Cape Coast; other central markets such as the Kejetia in Adum Central Market (Kumasi), Kaneshie (Accra), the Takoradi Market Circle, etc., experience the same. Traders on the upper floor levels do not earn a substantial income, leading to irregular tax payments. It was also discovered that the lack of traders’ classification and division, inadequate space, the absence of regulations within the market, and consumers’ unwillingness to climb to the upper floors were factors affecting trading on the upper floors.
The study revealed that traders do not earn adequate income, and this has negatively impacted on tax compliance of traders. They reported that they have lost most of their customers, leading to low purchases and low revenue.
Customers are unwilling to climb the upper floors, which has made business slow.
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Factors Affecting Upper Floor Trading
- Lack of traders’ classification and division
- Inadequate space
- Absence of regulations within the market
- Consumers’ unwillingness to climb to the upper floors
The study revealed that most of them (12 out of 15) indicated that the Kotokuraba market was restructured into a storey building in 2012 to meet the demand of the 2016 land use and spatial planning.
To resolve the challenges, this study recommends that city authorities strategize to ensure that traders are regrouped based on the commodities they sell.
Map of Cape Coast Metropolis
Fire Incidents and Waste Management
As with many big markets in Ghana, most destruction to the Kotokoraba market is attributable to fire: two major fires have razed parts of the market since 2000. In 2002 fire gutted the market, destroying goods worth thousands of cedis. About 104 stalls and goods including textiles, provisions, toiletries and foodstuffs were completely destroyed. It took a combined team of personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service drawn from Cape Coast, Mankessim, Apam and Takoradi more than two hours to bring the fire under control. The fire started at about 7 pm.
As in many big markets in Ghana, waste and its management is a major preoccupation of the authorities in charge. Normally, cleaners start work at dawn when the market is the least busy, sweeping and gathering the previous day's refuse.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Construction Purpose | To meet land use and spatial planning demands, address limited space, and modernize the market. |
| Economic Impact | Traders on upper floors experience low income, leading to tax compliance issues. |
| Challenges | Lack of trader classification, inadequate space, absence of regulations, and consumer reluctance to use upper floors. |
| Recommendations | City authorities should regroup traders based on commodities. |
