WFF Ghana Youth Chapter: Empowers young women and traders at traditional market symposium

On 30 April, the World Food Forum (WFF) Ghana Youth Chapter hosted a traditional market symposium at two of Accra’s traditional trading centers - Makola and Nima markets. The event brought together market women, traders, smallholder farmers, policymakers, Non-Governmental Organizations and community leaders, recognizing the invaluable contributions of market women and traders as key connectors between rural producers and urban consumers.

Through a day of collaborative learning and dialogue, the symposium highlighted the value of traditional knowledge while exploring how innovation can strengthen local food value chains.

The opening ceremony featured remarks from the Chapter and local leaders. Keynote speakers included Naa Ayele Okine, a respected market woman who shared her experiences and the challenges faced by vendors in traditional marketplaces, and Kwame Sekyere, an agricultural economist who outlined how strengthening local markets like Makola and Nima can contribute to achieving broader national food security goals. The symposium featured three key panel discussions focused on the food value chain in traditional markets, integrating innovation to improve efficiency, and the policy and infrastructure needed for long-term sustainability. Discussions highlighted the need to preserve cultural heritage while adapting traditional market systems to meet evolving economic and environmental demands.

Interactive workshops and roundtable sessions offered attendees hands-on training in areas such as digital financial tools, negotiation, food safety and waste management. A key outcome of the symposium was the co-creation of actionable policy recommendations for government and development partners. These recommendations focused on strengthening market infrastructure, expanding access to finance and training and promoting inclusive, community-driven policies to support traders and market women.

As part of its broader 2025 agenda, the Chapter will continue building on the momentum of this event through national activities that empower local actors, strengthen agrifood systems and place youth leadership at the center of agrifood systems transformation.

Are you a young agrifood changemaker ready to make a difference in your country? Join a WFF National Youth Chapter near you by filling out the National Youth Chapter Interest Form and contacting us at [email protected]