New Juaben South MCE cuts sod for 24-hour economy market at Agartha
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for New Juaben South, Ransford Owusu Boakye, has cut the sod for the construction of a modern 24-hour economy market at the Koforidua Agartha Market in the Eastern Region to further enhance trading activities in the area.
The move, he said, was to provide decent infrastructure in such already existing market centres in the municipalities and districts, regions and the country as a whole to enable traders to do their trading activities without any hindrance.
The initiative, which is in line with the government’s flagship programme, the 24-Hour-Economy Policy, would have a day care centre, restaurants, police and fire stations, a clinic, a pharmacy, cold storage units, a lorry station, lockable shops, warehouses, offices for market management and a women's development bank.
The market project, which is expected to be completed within 36 weeks, would be executed by the PIWAC and Afritek Construction Limited.
At the sod cutting ceremony, Mr Boakye said the project was expected to stimulate economic activity, strengthen local commerce and improve the link between agricultural production and access to markets.
Job creation
The MCE said the project clearly demonstrated the government’s commitment to continue to promote local economic development, job creation and sustainable commercial growth, stressing it was a testament that the government was poised to fulfil its promise to the people, especially traders of the New Juaben South.
He also acknowledged the support of the New Juaben Traditional Council in advancing the 24-Hour Economy initiative.
He advised the residents, particularly the traders, to protect the site during the construction and cooperate with the contractors to enable them to complete the project on the stipulated time.
The Gyasehene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Twumasi Danquah, who represented the Omanhene, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, urged the stakeholders to bury their political differences and unite to give the contractors the needed support to enable them to execute the 24-hour economy market within the scheduled time.
Nana Danquah described the initiative as laudable, indicating that the execution of the market project was a step in the right direction and that the market facilities would spur rapid socio-economic growth and development.
Commendation
The Gyasehene commended the government for the 24-hour economy market projects, explaining that it would serve as a catalyst to boost local economic growth and drive the transformation agenda of the New Juaben South forward.
He cautioned the contractors executing the market projects to expedite work to ensure their timely completion. He also advised them against shoddy workmanship and appealed to them to maintain high standards of quality throughout the construction process
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