The government is reviewing the design and scope of its flagship 24-hour model market initiative and plans to rename the project “District Model Markets.”
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, announced the proposed changes on Monday, October 5, during the Government Accountability Series.
According to Mr Ayariga, the review follows consultations on how best to align the projects with available resources while ensuring that the markets can be completed within two years.
He said President John Dramani Mahama had already cut the sod for the commencement of flagship market projects in seven regions, with projects at various stages of development across the country’s 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
“Deliberations are ongoing with a view to remodelling the designs and rescoping the project to fit readily available budget and urgent need to complete the markets within two years,” Mr Ayariga said.
The proposed changes are intended to ensure that the market projects are appropriately designed and scoped based on available funding and the immediate needs of communities.
The minister said the revised programme would continue to support the government’s broader objective of improving trading infrastructure and promoting local economic development.
Kumasi and Takoradi Market Projects
Mr Ayariga also disclosed that negotiations had been completed to allow contractors to return to site and continue work on the Kumasi Central Market Phase II and Takoradi Market Circle projects.
Both projects have experienced delays in recent years.
Earlier this year, the government said work on the Kumasi Central Market Phase II and Takoradi Market Circle projects had been stalled amid funding challenges. At the time of suspension, Takoradi Market was reported to be 81.62% complete, while Kumasi Central Market Phase II had reached 58.22% completion.
The government has since indicated that efforts were underway to secure funding and re-engage contractors to complete the projects.
The market programme is expected to form part of efforts to improve trading conditions, support local businesses and strengthen economic activity in communities.
The proposed remodelling and renaming of the initiative will therefore shift the focus toward District Model Markets, while maintaining the government’s objective of providing modern and improved trading facilities across the country.
Mr Ayariga said the government would continue reviewing the projects to ensure that their designs and scope reflect available resources and that the markets can be delivered within the targeted two-year period.
