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The Jirapa main market situated less than two kilometers from the Jirapa township to the west, on the Jirapa – Tizza main road is just not a bustling commercial shopping centre but is a way of life in several aspects for numerous people.

The main market days fall on Sundays, drawing people from far and near and even from neighboring countries, plunging them into brisk business, renewing weekly social ties and to an extent, promoting sight seeing for the curious.

The routine of a typical market day starts from a Saturday where traders and business people start transporting in their wares, especially the “itinerant” or trekking market men and women who move from township to township, based on the market day to offer their wares and services for sale.


Market days in Jirapa are an orderly, colourful affair with lots of laughter, haggling, with screaming people advertising their products with others exchanging pleasantries and some arguing with revenue collectors over collected or uncollected tolls, but curiously, without the known human and vehicular traffic gridlock, quarrelling market mummies and young pickpockets in good business which is the norm of most big markets.

Market days in some jurisdictions such as Wa, Techiman and Makola markets can be a very stressful affair with shoppers getting back home tired and stressed up and if their shoppings, handbags and wallets are intact after the hustle and bustle of a shopping session.

One can only look on but marvel at the security arrangements of the market without any visible security wardens, yet the parking arrangements of vehicles, bicycles, tricycles motorbikes and more, are neatlly partitioned and there’s no reckless riding within the precincts of the market square although the Jirapa township is notorious for reckless and extremely dangerous riding, responsible for several fatalities and counting.

It is also notable to mention that there are non-existent or extremely few beggars, loiterers or idlers, especially that most big markets have designated points for beggars, for whatever reason.

That’s a plus for the managers of the Jirapa market!

The Jirapa trade fair would not be what it is if you discount the social events that go on on a weekly basis.

You can’t run away from the local brew, the pito, where there are lively debates as to which brewer, mostly women (daa pog) although it is rumored that some men are into the craft, brews the best pito (Defeated debaters finally blame it on the quality of the malt their preferred “daa pog” used or some unfortunately bizarre reason).

The “kose”, “sinser” or in a more “borfolized” manner “cakes”, the product of finely mixed bean flour with water into a pulp that is fried in hot oil, producing a golden brown cake that is either eaten alone, with a mixture of finely pound dry salt and pepper or preferably ground fresh pepper, tomatoes and salt, might be the sole reason people find themselves in the market.

The banger of the “kose” is when some selected leaves native to northern Ghana, are boiled and crushed into a mixture with hot “kose” with some preferring to add shredded, tomatoes, onions and cabbage which is then sprinkled with dry salt and pepper, making it a filling, balanced and delicious culinary product.

You might think that’s enough, others go ahead to mush “kose” with pork, mutton or beef broth with some adding the selected leaves mentioned above, producing a mouthwatering meal that is mostly washed down with “pito” or a conventional beer or stout, making it very likely to elicit a second serving, this is mostly consumed communally with family and friends.

For those with the knack for meat, men perform magic by producing boiled pig or beef, with just salt and pepper without any seasoning with some using the entrails and blood, boiling it in the intestines to produce a much loved meat based meal.

The market is a hub where important social events and issues such as marriages, funerals, weighty family and social businesses are discussed, due to distances, work schedules and other pressing needs, relatives, friends and even business partners rarely meet, hence, seizing the weekly market day as an opportunity to settle these important issues.

There are a wide range of products on sale; fresh and dry vegetables, legumes, cereals including corn, millet, rice, dawadawa, livestock and a whole lot of food products.

Also on sale are both local and foreign fabrics, electronic products, plastic ware and indeed, an endless variety of products.

Services such as hairdressing, tailoring and dressmaking and so many others are always on an all-time high on a market day in Jirapa.

A market day in Jirapa is also an important day for the Municipal Assembly to generate revenue for development purposes.

Revenue officers are seen taking market tolls and even tolls from cars and motorbikes.

When ever in Jirapa township on a good Sunday, drop in and savour in the sights, sounds, aromas and tastes of the market.


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