The District Chief Executive for Bawku West, James Ayamwego, has described the government’s 24-hour market initiative in the Upper East Region as a forward-looking intervention aimed at boosting local economic activity and tackling unemployment.
Speaking on A1 Radio after all District Chief Executives in the region signed onto the initiative, the DCE said the policy forms part of the government’s broader agenda to create jobs and expand economic opportunities, particularly for the youth.
“The 24-hour economic market is part of government policy on rolling out the 24-hour policy to boost local economic activities, provide jobs for our teeming youth and the populace of the country who are eagerly yearning for such an opportunity.”
According to him, the proposed market infrastructure is designed to support round-the-clock operations with facilities intended to ensure convenience, security, and sanitation. He explained that the market will include lockable stores, a crèche to support nursing mothers, a police post for security services, and a fire station to respond to emergencies.
Mr. Ayamwego also praised President John Dramani Mahama for extending the initiative to the Upper East Region, saying the move demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that no region is excluded from major national development programmes.
“I think that we ought to give thanks to the president, congratulate the president for that bold decision and a good initiative of ensuring that the region and the various MMDAs in the Upper East Region are not left out with this laudable initiative.”
Addressing concerns that parts of the country, including the Upper East Region, may not yet have the level of economic activity needed to sustain a 24-hour market system, the DCE argued that the region has seen significant growth in population and development over the past decade.
“If you look at the Upper East in the past 10 years, it is not the same as it is today. We have increased astronomically in terms of our population, development, and many other areas. So yes, somebody can argue that today, the Upper East is not well positioned to be able to operate markets of this nature, but it’s not out of place to say that therefore it is not necessary. No,” he said.
He maintained that even if the markets do not immediately operate throughout the night, the infrastructure would still remain beneficial for regular daytime trading while positioning the region for future economic expansion.
“If we have the markets and we are even unable to operate them 24 hours, and we are able to even have just one single hour operating the market, it is not also out of place.”
The DCE further stressed that the initiative should be viewed as a long-term investment capable of supporting the region’s development ambitions as economic activities continue to grow.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
