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When I met her she was trying to resolve an issue where one market woman had taken over the space of another and Her verdict was one week ultimatum for the current occupier of the space to leave.
Being a market queen is not an easy job but Lawrencia does it gracefully.
The Ashiaman market is a big one with traders coming from Accra, Ada and Volta region to selll.
After over 43 years of selling cassava and plantain she now runs an eatery in the market where she sells fufu, banku, Ghana jollof, pastries and almost every local meal you can think of. The market is a big one. Most women from Accra, Ada and parts of the Volta Region come to trade there.
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Becoming a market queen
To be called a market queen comes with a lot of prestige. The number of years you have spent trading in the market count’s for a minute bit of the whole process of selecting a queen.
Leadership and the ability to get things done are key to lead the market women at Ashiaman and Lawrencia knows this. She fondly remembers the actions she took to secure the space now referred to as the Ashiaman market.
To become a market queen “you also need to have self-respect, you must be very active in the market affairs, and you must also be very understanding.” These qualities are very essential because market queens once installed cannot to remove until they die.
Since Lawrencia became queen mother ten years ago she has ensured that sheds are provided for the vendors to protect their wares from rain and sunshine.
This is one of many things she has done including resolving disputes on a daily basis.
She has one rule in the market this election period. No market woman should be seen actively engaging in politics in the market.