The Association of Women Accountants, Ghana, has paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey ahead of a financial literacy outreach for traders at the Makola Market.

The delegation, led by the Association President, Ms Efua Bonsu, said the visit was to formally engage the Mayor and brief him on the group’s planned programme to equip market women with basic financial management skills.

Ms Bonsu said the Association chose Makola Market for the outreach because of the important role women traders played in the local economy and the need to strengthen their capacity to manage and sustain their businesses.

She explained that the exercise would focus on practical financial literacy, including proper bookkeeping, insurance for goods and businesses, financial planning, and measures to ensure business continuity.

According to her, the Association also wanted to help traders understand how sound financial management could enable them to grow their businesses, remain profitable, and create employment opportunities for others.

Ms Bonsu said the delegation considered it important to first call on the Mayor before proceeding to the market, describing the visit as a mark of respect and an opportunity to seek the Assembly’s support for the initiative.

She thanked the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) for its cooperation and for facilitating the Association’s activities within the metropolis.

Welcoming the group, the Mayor commended the Association for extending financial education to market women, describing women as indispensable to the social and economic development of the city.

He said women formed a significant proportion of traders and business operators in Accra and therefore needed the necessary knowledge and support to protect their investments and expand their businesses.

The Mayor assured the Association that the doors of the Assembly remained open to organisations whose activities contributed to the welfare and development of residents, particularly women and small-scale traders.

He urged the Association to incorporate education on the payment of approved market tolls, business operating permits, and other legitimate Assembly revenues into its engagements with traders.

He pointed out that compliance with approved revenue obligations was necessary to enable the Assembly to provide sanitation services, maintain markets and public infrastructure, and undertake other development interventions that directly benefited residents and businesses.

The Mayor later assured the association and market women of the AMA’s continued support, saying the Assembly was ready to work with women’s groups and traders to address challenges affecting their businesses and livelihoods.