Allocate lands to speed up 24-hour market projects-Minister to MMDAs

By Benjamin Akoto

Sunyani, (Bono), Feb. 3, GNA – Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has directed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to acquire lands to speed up the construction of the 24-hour markets.

He said those lands ought to be at strategic areas, urging the Assemblies to collaborate effectively with traditional authorities in securing suitable locations for the siting of the markets.

Mr Ibrahim gave the directive when he addressed a meeting of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs in Sunyani, explaining that the MMDAs would be allowed to select from the four models designed under the 24-hour market project that aligned with their respective capacities.

He said the government’s role was to engage consultants, develop the market models and mobilise funding, saying that the MMDAs and chiefs and queens were also expected to collaborate to secure appropriate lands for the projects.

“If for example a market is located in an inaccessible area and can’t be assessed at night, that defeats the purpose of the 24-hour economy markets and can’t be blamed on the government”, Mr Ibrahim stated.

He said various committees had been formed assessing the applications of districts and municipalities aspiring to be elevated into municipal and metropolitan status, saying those applications were under consideration.

Mr Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister commended traditional authorities in the region, urging the chiefs and queens to formally establish the “Bonokyempim Council” which sought to enhance coordinated development in the Bono and Bono East Regions.

He said the region would organise the ‘Public Accountability Series’ in April to render accounts of his stewardship and outline ongoing development programmes in the region.

Okokyeredom Sakyi Ako II, the Vice President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs and the Paramount Chief of the Drobo Traditional Area expressed concern about the myriads of challenges confronting the House including inadequate personnel and logistics.

He said many of the traditional councils in the region required bailiffs and registrars and also appealed to the Ministry to support the on-gong rehabilitation of the House’s office complex.

GNA

Edited by Dennis Peprah/Kenneth Odeng Adade