News

“Wele” business booms at Tema

Cowhide or cow skin popularly known as “wele” in the local parlance is one of the highly patronised delicacies by the public.

It is mostly sold by waakye (rice and beans) sellers and banku with okro stew or soup sellers.

A “wele factory” is doing well in the Tema West Municipality around the “Underbridge” Market at Adjei Kojo in the Greater Accra Region.

It is being manned by a 42-year-old Alfred Tetteh who says he has been in the business of processing wele for 26 years though he is less than a year old in the Tema West Municipality.

Every day of the week, trucks, tricycles and vehicles troop to the place to take their stock for further processing and distribution to the various markets centres.

In an interview with “The Spectator”, Mr. Tetteh said he learnt the skill of preparing wele as an apprentice for three years at Teshie, a suburb of Accra.

He said “it takes someone three years in ther wele business to undergo apprenticeship just like learning any other trade like carpentry, hair dressing, welding, sewing etc.

He said a beginner was admitted and trained on rolling of the cowhide (just like a woolen carpet is rolled) and observing also how the process takes place.

He said the apprentices, wearing thick hand gloves (to protect their hands from fire and other possible dangers) would roll the cowhides because they were usually brought to the warehouse looking flat.

Mr. Tetteh said the cowhides were imported from Kenya, Mauritania, Guinea, Egypt and other African countries and he received as many as about 2,000 pieces of consignment at a time.

He described the wele business as lucrative but tiresome which needed a lot of commitment.

The 42-year-old said he had employed three people aside his several apprentices and supplied to about 15 regular clients from Ashaiman, Kasoa, Teshie and Accra Central, apart from the many others who also prepared the cowhide for further sale to traders who sold them at many other markets.

Going through the process of preparing the cowhide into wele, he said he and his team could work at anytime including as early as 2am, depending on the demand by his clients.

Reacting to a question why he uses logs not car tyres, for singeing, he described the latter as dangerous and a threat to human health.

As to why some of the wele are hard and others soft, he explained that the soft wele was from bulls while the hard wele from cow.

Mr. Tetteh said his wife also traded in wele and the business had helped them to take care of themselves and their children.

From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema

News

Greater Accra Regional Minister calls on traders to operate within designated spaces to ease congestion

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, has called on traders in the city to operate within designated spaces to ease congestion and maintain cleanliness in market centres.

Speaking with traders at the Kaneshie Market on February 4, 2025, during a tour of selected market centres to assess sanitation challenges, reinforce government commitment to address indiscriminate refuse disposal, and improve market conditions, the minister called for collaboration between traders and local authorities to address sanitation and maintain order.

She assured the new government’s commitment to addressing urban challenges and improving market conditions in Accra as part of its broader agenda for a cleaner city.

“We are here to engage you in a conversation about our mission to improve cleanliness in Greater Accra. We are taking into account the conditions of the roads, your problems, and your suggestions. Most walkways have been taken over by traders instead of serving their original purpose, which leads to traffic congestion. We want to understand your challenges so that we can find the best way to assist you,” the Minister stated.

The Minister who was accompanied by officials from the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council ( GARCC) led by the Chief Director of the GARCC, Mrs. Lilian Baeka, some staff from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA) and other sister assemblies in the Region used the opportunity to enquire about the state of waste disposal within the market and the efficiency of refuse collection by the assemblies.

“Does it take long for the refuse to be collected after it is gathered? These are some of the issues we want to address,” she added, inviting traders to share their thoughts.

The President of the Greater Accra Markets Association, Mrs. Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan who welcomed the minister, expressed gratitude for the visit and assured traders commitment to rally support behind her as a woman in leadership.

”In the market, we face numerous challenges we wish to discuss. There are various groups of traders with some selling at the top, others beneath, while some can be relocated, others should be removed. However, we must follow due process to ensure that people’s livelihoods are not affected. She cannot do it alone, and we are ready to support her efforts,” she stated.

She noted that efforts to regulate trading activities, especially on the Kaneshie overhead footbridge, had proven difficult despite continuous engagements with the police.

Madam Mercy Naa Afrowa Needjan identified street trading as a major concern, explaining that it had significantly affected business inside the main markets.

“Our major problem is those selling outside. Because of them, the market is now dry. Almost everyone has moved onto the streets. They are our brothers and sisters, and we want them inside the market. There are a lot of vacant spaces they can occupy,” she said.

On sanitation, she remarked that significant progress had been made, stressing that previously, the Kaneshie market was associated with rubbish, but the story had changed for good.

News

President John Mahama submits list of Deputy Ministers

President John Dramani Mahama has nominated 13 people to serve as deputy ministers in his government.

In accordance with Articles 78(1) and 79(1) of the Constitution, President Mahama submitted the names of the underlisted to Parliament, through the Speaker, for prior approval to serve as Deputy Ministers.