The markets the former Trade and Industry Minister visited include Okaishie, Makola, Tudu, TS, Kwasiadwaso, Abossey Okai, Kaneshie and Kokompe.

Momentarily, business activities came to a halt as the traders left their wares to catch a glimpse of the man who has been in charge of their industry for the past seven years.

Accompanied by his wife and some top echelons of the Move­ment, Mr Kyerematen’s first stop was the palace of the late Okaishie­Mantse, Nii Tetteh Kwao I, where he commiserated with the family and asked for their blessing as he seeks to lead the country in the highest office.

He then moved through the Okaishie drug lane and onto the Makola market where he was, amid singing and dancing, mobbed by the traders who largely deal in clothing.

Moving at a snail pace as a result of the swelling crowd, Mr Kyerematen and his team moved to Tudu and TS where he met with the president and executives of the Greater Accra Market Women Association.

He then proceeded to the Kwasiadwaso where he interacted with the market women to under­stand the predicaments of their businesses.

The team moved to Abossey Okai where Mr Kyerematen had a closed-door meeting with exec­utives of the spare parts dealers association, he again proceeded to Kaneshie market and finally to Ko­kompe where he addressed a mini rally of spare part dealers.

The purpose of the tour is to understand the plight of traders in Accra as he puts together his manifesto for the 2024 presidential election.

In his interaction with the trad­ers, Mr Kyerematen indicated of his plans to establish the Trades Bank if voted into power to address capi­tal issues for traders in the country.

According to him, with rising interests from the commercial banks, a dedicated bank to trades would be the solution to the lack of credit to traders for them to expand their businesses.

Mr Kyerematen also pledged to the market women to construct state-of-the- art markets across the country not only to enhance their businesses but also for them to do their business in a congenial environment.

With the election in the corner, Mr Kyerematen admonished the traders to shun politicians who have in the past promised them only to do otherwise when they were voted for.

Having worked in the private sector before and served as Trade and Industry Minister, Mr Kyer­ematen said he best understands the trades sector and has a work­able plan to turn their fortunes around.

The GTP is Mr Kyerematen’s governance blueprint to solve the country’s teething challenges.

The 15-pillar plan is clustered into five thematic areas; econom­ic, infrastructure, social services, governance and behavioural, and attitudinal change