President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday cut the sod for the construction of a 24-hour economy market in Bimbila, the Nanumba North Municipality, as part of a nationwide programme to build modern markets in all 261 districts across the country.
Yaape Doo Company Limited is the contractor on the project.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President said the market project was a direct fulfilment of a campaign promise made during the 2024 elections and formed part of the National Democratic Congress manifesto commitment to stimulate economic activity in every corner of the country.
“We decided that every single district in this country will benefit from the 24-hour market project,” Mahama said.
Each of the 261 markets will come with a range of facilities including a fire service post, police station, crèche, restaurant, clinic and a bank, making them more than just trading centres but economic anchors for their communities.
The President said Bimbila had been earmarked for one of the largest model markets in the entire programme, a recognition of the Nanumba North area’s standing as one of Ghana’s most productive agricultural zones.
The area is among the country’s leading producers of yams, maize and beans, and the President said the market was designed to serve as the vital link between farmers in the field and consumers at the table.
“If you farm and you don’t have a market to sell your produce, it’s useless. There must always be a linkage between the farm and the market and the household,” he said.
The Bimbila market will feature 10 large warehouses where farmers and traders can store produce safely for redistribution, a facility the President said would go a long way in stabilising prices and reducing post-harvest losses in the area.
Beyond trading, President Mahama said the market would generate employment through the creation of a dedicated market administration office responsible for running the facility around the clock.
He urged the contractor to deliver quality work, noting that the market was 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.
The President also called on the district assembly to take maintenance seriously once the market is commissioned, and pledged to return for the commissioning ceremony when construction is complete.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
