A growing sanitation crisis is festering at the heart of Winneba’s economic activity, as Penkye Market, one of the busiest trading centers in the Effutu Municipality, battles mounting refuse, clogged drains, and poor hygiene infrastructure. What should be a hub of vibrant commerce has become a hotspot for potential health disaster.

The market, famed for its fresh fish, vegetables, and bustling trade, draws hundreds of traders and shoppers daily. Yet behind its busy stalls and vibrant chatter lies a troubling picture of neglect and environmental decay.

A recent visit by Jacob Booyere, a Level 300 Journalism student from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), revealed unsanitary conditions that threaten both public health and livelihoods. He observed refuse piles left uncollected for days, plastic waste scattered across trading areas, and drains choked with filth and stagnant water. Most alarming, fresh produce, fish, and meat were being sold just a few meters from open waste dumps — a dangerous setup that provides a direct route for food contamination.

Traders Speak Out: “We Are Struggling to Stay Clean”

Frustration among traders is mounting. Many say they make daily efforts to maintain cleanliness, but the failure of timely waste collection undermines their efforts.

“We try to keep our stalls clean, but when the containers are full for days, where do we put the rubbish?” lamented Madam Abena, a fishmonger at the market.

Other traders echoed her concern, calling for more frequent refuse collection and better drainage maintenance. Some residents also complained about open defecation in nearby streams, which not only worsens the stench but attracts flies and other disease vectors.

The lack of public toilets, hand washing stations, and waste bins within the market compounds the problem. During the rainy season, overflowing drains carry filth through the market and into surrounding neighborhoods, leaving behind stagnant pools that become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and cholera-causing bacteria.

Health and Economic Risks Mounting

Health experts warn that the situation poses a serious public health emergency. The Member of Parliament for Effutu, Hon. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, recently expressed concern that the deteriorating environmental conditions could trigger outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea.

“The state of sanitation at Penkye Market threatens the wellbeing of both traders and customers. It is a ticking time bomb that demands urgent attention,” he cautioned.

The crisis has also taken an economic toll. Some traders report declining sales as the market’s reputation suffers. Shoppers are increasingly reluctant to buy food items displayed near waste heaps, and business owners say the unhygienic environment discourages visitors from neighboring communities.

Environmental Impact Reaches the Coast

The problem extends beyond the market. Environmentalist Samuel Aketauh warned that the uncontrolled dumping of plastic and organic waste in and around Penkye Market eventually finds its way into Winneba’s coastal waters through runoff.

“We are slowly poisoning our marine ecosystem. Plastics from the market block waterways and end up in the sea, endangering marine life and threatening the livelihoods of local fishermen,” he said.

Calls for Enforcement and Long-Term Solutions

The Effutu Municipal Assembly has in the past organized periodic cleanup exercises and public sensitization campaigns, but residents argue that these have been sporadic and unsustainable.

Assembly Member Benjamin Fiifi Sackey, who represents the area, believes stronger enforcement is needed:

“We need to establish a task force to ensure strict enforcement of sanitation bylaws. People who litter or defecate openly must face real consequences. Without discipline, the situation will only worsen.”

Experts and community leaders are urging a comprehensive waste management strategy—one that combines education, enforcement, and infrastructure improvement. They advocate for:

Frequent waste collection and maintenance of drains.

Provision of adequate sanitation facilities, including toilets and hand washing stations.

Installation of more refuse bins throughout the market.

Public-private partnerships to sustain sanitation operations.

Community engagement to promote shared responsibility for cleanliness.

A Call to Collective Action

The Penkye Market crisis underscores a broader challenge confronting many municipal markets across Ghana — the gap between public awareness and sustainable action.

While traders, residents, and officials all recognize the urgency, lasting change will require coordinated effort and accountability. The health and prosperity of Winneba depend on transforming Penkye Market from a breeding ground for disease into a clean, thriving commercial center worthy of the municipality’s pride.

As one elderly vendor poignantly remarked: