The maiden Ofie Market Experience comes off this Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Amanokrom Community Centre Park in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The brainchild of Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Samuel Kwabena Awuku, popularly known as Sammi Awuku, is an innovative market that aims at reducing post-harvest losses and provide consumers with fresh, organic produce at farm-gate prices.
The idea behind the Ofie Market is to connect hardworking farmers with consumers, ensuring that fresh produce reaches homes while also helping farmers and traders earn more for their efforts.
During the launch of the event, which took off last month, Sammi Awuku explained that the market is designed to address the challenges faced by farmers in the constituency, particularly post-harvest losses.
“Farmers’ post-harvest losses have been a major concern for us. We wanted to create a platform where farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers, eliminating middlemen and ensuring better prices,” he explained.
The Ofie Market has garnered significant support from the community, with over 500 farmers and 300 market queens already on board.
The coordinator of the event, Barimah Awuah Sarpong Asiedu–Larbi Esq, explained, “There will also be playing grounds for children who will come along with their parents to shop”.
He said, “Vendors will come and sell their foods. We urge all to come and buy, and there will be funfair and sales of all kinds of foodstuffs available.”
The OFIE Market is more than just a place to buy food; it’s about improving lives, supporting local farmers, and making organic produce affordable for everyone.
The event is in collaboration with the Municipal Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and has received widespread support from the community.
Mr. Barima Asiedu Larbi who is Coordinator for the Ofie Market, underscored the significance of the project in dealing with post-harvest losses and creating a ready market for both farmers and market women.
“This project is about We creating the platform for farmers to after harvest, bring their produce to the market where there would be buyers”, he disclosed.
According to him, the new market will take place on the last Saturday of every month where both farmers with their produce are transported from the various farming communities to the Amanokrom community centre, expressing hope in ready market for them.
“This market will happen once in a month, mostly the last Saturday of the month where these farmers from the various communities within neighbouring communities are transported to the market”, he stressed adding that “the market will start at 6am and close at 5pm. We have, therefore, provided transportation for all farmers with produce ready for sale within Akuapem North to come.
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On Security arrangements, he indicated that police personnel with some support from private security details will be there to ensure the safety of patrons of the market.
“We have police personnel who would be guarding the car park with some private security personnel to provide assistance. We also have MTTD Personnel on standby to direct traffic and created a children’s playground for children of market women with adequate security”, he stressed
