President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of a 24-hour economy market in Bimbila, marking the start of a major infrastructure project aimed at boosting local commerce and strengthening market access for farmers and traders in the area.
The project forms part of the party’s flagship 24-hour economy agenda, which seeks to establish modern market centres in all districts to boost local commerce and enhance the circulation of money within communities.
Addressing residents and traditional authorities in Bimbila during his Resetting Tour of the Northern Region, Mr Mahama said the initiative was a direct outcome of the commitments made by the NDC during the 2024 general election campaign.
He explained that the government’s decision to roll out the project nationwide was based on the important role markets play in driving economic activity, particularly in rural and farming communities.
“This was part of our promise to stimulate economic activity in all parts of the country, and one of the things that stimulates economic activity is markets,” Mr Mahama said.
He noted that traditional markets, which usually operate once or twice a week, serve as key commercial hubs where people travel from far and near to trade and exchange goods.
“That activity not only exchanges goods but it also circulates money within the economy,” he said, stressing that market development remains one of the fastest ways to strengthen local economies.
Mr Mahama announced that every district in the country will benefit from the 24-hour market project, with all 261 districts expected to receive a modern market facility under the programme.
“We decided that every single district in this country will benefit from the 24-hour market project. So, 261 districts in this country, each of them is receiving this 24-hour economy market,” he said.
He said the model markets will be equipped with essential facilities including fire service and police posts, a crèche for children, restaurants, a clinic and a bank to ensure a safe and business-friendly environment for traders.
“There will be restaurants to serve you breakfast, lunch and dinner. There will also be a clinic, a bank and all the other items that he identified,” he added.
Mr. Mahama emphasised the importance of linking agriculture to reliable markets, noting that production alone is not enough without proper channels for marketing and distribution.
“One of the important things in agricultural production is marketing. If you farm and you don’t have a market to sell your produce, it is useless,” he said.
He described the market as the bridge between farmers, consumers and households, adding that the Bimbila market will play a strategic role in supporting food distribution across the country.
“The market is the interconnection between the food on our table and the farmer producing in the field,” he noted.
President Mahama said Bimbila was selected to host one of the largest model markets due to its status as a major food-producing area, particularly in yam production.
“Bimbila area is the largest producer of yams, one of the largest producers of maize, the largest producer of beans, groundnuts. Bimbila is the epicenter of agricultural production,” he said.
He disclosed that the market will include 10 large warehouses to enable farmers and traders to store produce safely and return later for redistribution, a move he said will help improve marketing and reduce losses.
“In this market you’re going to have 10 warehouses, where you can keep your food products safely and come back and pick them for redistribution,” he stated.
Mr Mahama urged the contractor handling the project to deliver quality work, stressing that the market must be built to last for generations.
“This market is going to be there for hundreds of years. Our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren will come and do business in this market,” he said.
He also called on the district assembly to ensure proper maintenance after completion, explaining that the market will have administrators who will oversee operations and keep the facility in good condition.
“The market will have an office for the administrator and so those administrators will be responsible for making sure the market is well maintained,” he added.
Mr Mahama further revealed plans to expand the yam value chain by encouraging the production of yam-based fufu flour to increase demand for farmers in the northern regions.
“We’re asking them to explore using yam too for their fufu flour so that our farmers can get a bigger market for their yams,” he said.
He noted that yam prices often fall sharply during the harvest season, affecting farmers’ ability to recover their investments, and stressed the need to create alternative markets beyond exports.
“A lot of our farmers are not able to recoup their investment… we must also find other uses for the yams so that our farmers can benefit,” he stated.
On infrastructure, Mr Mahama assured the people of Bimbila and Nanung that the area will not be neglected under the NDC’s “Big Push” infrastructure programme.
“Bimbulana and surrounding areas will not be neglected in the Big Push projects,” he said.
He mentioned that the Bangdili to Chachagli bridge will be prioritised to improve access between Zabzugu and Bimbila, while road projects such as the Bimbila–Salaga road and Kandai–Salaga road are also expected to be undertaken.
“I can assure you that the Bangdili to Chachagli bridge is one that we’re going to prioritize, we’re also going to do under the Big Push the Bimbila–Salaga road,” he stated.
Mr Mahama also announced plans to begin work on the Chereponi–Bunkpurugu road as part of efforts to enhance road connectivity within the eastern corridor.
He added that the government has awarded what he described as the highest number of road contracts in Ghana’s history, supported by a budget allocation of nearly GH¢50 billion for about 2,000 kilometres of road construction nationwide.
“The budget has allocated almost 50 billion cedis to finance the construction of almost 2,000 kilometers of road… all over the country,” he said.
He assured residents that concerns raised in other sectors, including education and health, have been noted and will be discussed with relevant ministries for appropriate action.
Source: Mubarak Yakubu/angelonline.com.gh
