Committee to develop model markets inaugurated
Three models commercial markets have been designed for the country with the objective of preventing fire disasters in markets.
Advertisement
The models are designed to suit metropolitan, municipal and district capitals, and could be financed, constructed and operationalised in phases at cost recovery basis.
To this effect, a five member technical committee on the development of model markets was yesterday inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Nii Lantey Vanderpuije.
The committee is made up of representatives of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the ministries of Local Government, Finance and Economic Planning and Trade and Industry (MOTI).
They, as part of their roles, are to draw up plans that will help implement the market models in various notable markets in the country.
In line with the government’s objective of creating an efficiently functioning domestic market for the development and distribution of products for both local consumption and exports, MOTI through its Domestic Trade and Distribution Division, is facilitating the construction of modern market infrastructure in metropolitan, municipal and district capitals throughout the country.
Currently, with the exception of a few well thought-out and laid out market infrastructure, most open-air markets in the country have no properly designed infrastructure.
They are also overcrowded, making the normal transportation of goods and persons to and from the markets almost impossible.
The three models have all the facilities that are lacking in the existing markets, including cold stores, fire protection facilities, solid and hygienic market stalls, well laid-out drainages, places of convenience, day-care centres, playgrounds, running water, among others.
Mr Vanderpuije in his remarks said most of the markets had never been renovated since they were constructed while their facilities did not even meet the demands of the current population.”
Mr Vanderpuije said the technical committee would link up with other utility agencies such as the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ghana Water Company to work together to construct the markets.
Mr Vanderpuije urged private investors and financiers interested in constructing the new markets on a commercial or Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis to come on board and help develop the markets.
By Zainabu Issah/Daily Graphic/Ghana
