The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Donatus Atanga Akamugri, has cut sod for the construction of a 24-hour market project in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region.
Addressing residents of the Bolgatanga East District, Mr. Akamugri described the 24-hour market project as a development that would boost productivity and ensure youth employment.
He said the project forms part of the 24-hour economy initiative discussed by President John Dramani Maham during the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to him, once completed, the project will strengthen the economy and expand employment opportunities for young people, including jobs in security and other support services.
Mr. Akamugri explained that the market is designed as a facility with one job structure but three shifts, so the market can operate continuously.
He stated that the 24-hour market will create jobs for the youth in areas such as security, the fire service, market operations,sales personnel, and teachers to manage the kindergarten facilities.
He added that the project will therefore run efficiently and provide sustained livelihood for beneficiaries.He appealed to the Paramount Chief of Zuarungu,the Tindana landowners, and elders of the traditional authority to support the contractor to deliver the project on time.
He emphasized that development does not “hang in the air,” but depends on land access, warning that any agitations over land could delay a project meant to improve the local economy, create jobs, and enhance security in the district.
The Paramount Chief of the Zuarungu Traditional Area, Naba Bilia Malitinga Afegra III, represented by Mr. John Atanga Asumbere, thanked President John Dramani Mahama for establishing the 24-hour market project.
He appealed to the government to support the market women, describing them as the main stakeholders of the initiative, with the necessary financial support to strengthen local economic activities in the district.
The Bolgatanga East District Chief Executive (DCE),Mr. Jacob Aka-eri Abugre, also thanked the Paramount Chief of Zuarungu, the Tindana, landowners, and the people of the traditional area for their continued support in making land available for the project.
Mr. Abugre said that when completed, the 24-hour market will raise the status of the Zuarungu market to a standard befitting the district’s role as a district capital and a former regional capital of the Upper East Region.
He noted that currently, the district market still looks like a “roadside market,” which does not reflect the importance of the area.He urged landowners and residents of Zuarungu to support the district’s portion of the project so that the Zuarungu market can develop to the level of popularity it had about 66 years ago
.He further stated that the 24-hour market project has major components, including a **kindergarten, police post,fire service post, warehouses, lockable shops, facilities for livestock traders, goldstone (as included in the project plans), and a women’s bank to provide loans to support women’s businesses and improve their productivity.
Mr. Abugre added that the district is in the process of demolishing toilet facilities located on the project site to clear the land for construction.
He therefore appealed to affected community members to vacate the area and move their properties to enable the contractor to begin work and complete the project within the stipulated timeframe.
The consultant for the 24-hour market project, Mr. Sampson Awuah of Avangarde Design Services,briefed stakeholders on the process undertaen in planning and developing the initiative.Mr. Awuah said the consultant’s team visited districts, municipalities, and metropolitan areas to examine what could be done for 24-hour market development.
After consultations and field assessments, reports were submitted and designs were accepted. He explained that drawings were prepared, tenders were advertised, evaluations were conducted, and contractors were selected for implementation in each district and municipality.
Mr. Awuah emphasized that the 24-hour markets are not ordinary markets. He said they include integrated facilities such as traditional lockable shops, police and fire stations, and support systems like cold storage and meat and livestock bays among others.
He urged contractors to engage district/municipal labour, adding that money spent on the projects should circulate within the local economy as much as possible by using local workers.
Source:mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Adongo Ayuureneeya.