Omega Market superintendent Mary Sayblee Walleh has called on the Liberian government to enforce the relocation of marketers from Red Light Market to Omega Market. Walleh emphasized that the persistent presence of vendors at Red Light is undermining the success of businesses at Omega Market.
“Imagine the items people are looking to buy at Omega Market are available at Red Light. Who would want to pay 50LD or 100LD to come to Omega to shop?” Walleh remarked in an interview with the Daily Observer Newspaper.
Walleh disclosed that businesses at Omega Market have faced significant challenges over the past three years due to a lack of customers. Despite having several market buildings, including a large central structure, these facilities remain mostly vacant.
Since the initial relocation from Red Light to Omega, there was a brief period of business activity, but many vendors have since returned to Red Light. Walleh noted that despite numerous appeals to the government during the previous administration, the issue has not been resolved.
Addressing rumors about a lack of facilities at Omega Market, Walleh clarified that the market buildings are available but unoccupied. She urged the government to take action, highlighting the need to support the businesses and families dependent on Omega Market.
Fatu Konneh, a businesswoman at Omega Market, shared her frustrations, noting that since the move from Gobachop to Omega Market four years ago, many marketers have returned to Red Light.
“We go to the office every day asking when the other marketers will return, but we never see any progress. People are leaving Omega to go back to Red Light because there is no effort to bring customers back here,” Konneh explained.
Konneh added that she has had to send her goods elsewhere to make sales. She described the hardship of traveling daily from Jacob Town to Omega Market, only to find no customers.
Emmanuel S. Garneo, a greens seller at Omega Market, echoed these concerns. He described the market as empty and polluted, with no buyers and an increasing presence of “Zogo” (street criminals). Garneo called on the government to enforce the relocation of Red Light marketers to Omega Market, believing that a consolidated effort would attract customers.
Garneo noted that he has remained at Omega Market since the relocation enforced by former President George Weah’s administration, adhering to the rules and hoping for a resolution.
Darling Girl Kerkula, a seller at Red Light, offered a different perspective. She stated that she couldn’t sell at Omega because everyone else was selling the same goods at Red Light.
She emphasized that a unified move to Omega Market is the only way she would consider relocating her business.
In conclusion, the Omega Market superintendent and other stakeholders are appealing to the government to address the issue urgently. They believe that with proper enforcement and support, Omega Market can thrive, benefiting both the marketers and the community.
