Makola Market

Makola Market
Makola Market Entrance
Location	Accra, Ghana

Makola Market is a renowned market place and shopping district in the centre of the city of Accra, the capital of Ghana. One can find a wide array of products being sold in the markets and its surrounding streets, from car parts to land snails. The market, dominated by women traders, sells fresh produce, manufactured and imported foods, clothes, shoes, tools, medicines, and pots and pans. Jewelry made from locally handcrafted beads can also be found for sale in the market.

Makola Market was constructed in Accra in 1924 and stood at the heart of the urban Ghanaian life. The market was the main wholesale and retail marketplace in Accra, the epicenter of trade in the country and one of the nation's most important social and cultural institutions.

On the 18th of August 1979, 55 years after its creation, Makola Market was destroyed. The Rawlings's government that agreed on the demolition of the centre of trade in Ghana thought that devastating Makola would improve the economy. Indeed, there were accusations that various products considered banned in Ghana were being sold in the Makola Market. In this way, the market women were accused of Ghana's economic problems.

Makola Market is currently under the observation of Transaid which is developing a project Transport and Trade for Market Women which is designed to improve the livelihoods and security of female market traders through the development of Women’s Transports Co-operatives in Accra.

Makola Market was featured in the Travel Channel show, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain in the Ghana episode. During the episode, Tony walked through the market, where he sampled local wares and enjoyed a condensed milk-toffee drink made with local herbs.

Presently most individuals use “Tro tros”, passenger mini-buses or taxis to fetch their goods to market. The co-operatives aim to reduce transport costs, bringing economic benefit, and providing a fast, reliable and secure means of transporting their goods for the female traders at Makola.

The area is currently a car park accurately called "Rawlings Square". Makola Market, also known as 31 December market, is located next to the Kwame Nkrumah memorial park over the High Street, and bounded by Kinbu, Thorpe Road (which becomes Kojo Thompson Avenue to the North), and Pagan Road. For tourists, the closeness of these tourist sites is a plus.