The Paramount Chief and President of the Asebu Traditional Council in the Central Region, Professor Okatakyi Nana Amanfi VII, has questioned the relevance of the government’s proposed 24-Hour Economy Market project to the people of the Abura Asebu-Kwamankese District.
According to the traditional ruler, the district is predominantly agricultural, with the majority of residents engaged in farming and the production of food crops and other agricultural commodities.
He argued that the government should carefully consider the economic activities and needs of individual districts before establishing 24-hour markets as part of its broader 24-Hour Economy agenda.
Speaking about the initiative, Professor Okatakyi Nana Amanfi VII said he do not believe that residents in the district would patronise a market at midnight, particularly for basic food commodities such as koobi (salted fish).
“No one within my traditional council will get up at 12 midnight and go to a 24-hour market to buy koobi,” he stated.
He maintained that while the concept of a 24-hour economy could have potential benefits, the specific market model being proposed may not be suitable for every district, especially communities whose economic activities are centred largely on agriculture.
The Asebu traditional leader said the Abura Asebu-Kwamankese District has a distinct economic character that should inform government’s development priorities.
“I think that we don’t need that type of market in our district,” he said, explaining that the district is “purely agricultural.”
“We are farmers. We cultivate cassava, maize, orange, plantain and other foodstuffs,” he added.
Professor Amanfi VII therefore suggested that government should tailor development projects to the realities of communities rather than adopting a uniform approach across the country.
He questioned whether farmers and residents from communities such as Kutubiw, Aburanu and Swedru would leave their homes at midnight simply to travel to a market to purchase basic commodities.
“I don’t think the people from Kutubiw, Aburanu, Swedru and other communities will get up at 12 midnight and go to a 24-hour market to buy koobi,” he said.
The Paramount Chief also disclosed that he is not even certain about the exact location of the proposed 24-hour market within the district.
He said he has no clear information on whether the project was being constructed at Swedru, Abura or another location.
“I don’t even have any idea about where they are building the said market, whether in Swedru, Abura or where else, I don’t know,” he stated.
His comments highlight concerns over consultation and the need for traditional authorities and local communities to be adequately engaged on major development projects being implemented in their areas.
The 24-Hour Economy Market initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to transform Ghana’s economy by promoting economic activities beyond conventional daytime operating hours.
The project is designed to establish modern, multipurpose markets operating around the clock across all 261 districts.
The proposed markets differ from traditional weekly or bi-weekly markets, with the government positioning them as modern commercial hubs intended to facilitate continuous trading, create employment opportunities and strengthen local economies.
The infrastructure is expected to operate as a “plug-and-play” commercial facility, with utilities and other essential services incorporated to enable traders and businesses to operate efficiently.
Among the proposed features are modern lighting systems and security arrangements to support trading activities during the night.
The facilities are also expected to provide banking services, storage warehouses, fire protection units, crèches, emergency clinics and food courts, among other amenities.
The storage facilities are particularly intended to support farmers and traders by helping to reduce post-harvest losses and improve the handling and preservation of agricultural produce.
While the government sees the 24-Hour Economy Market project as a mechanism for stimulating economic activity and creating jobs, Prof. Amanfi VII’s comments raise questions about whether a uniform 24-hour market model can work effectively across districts with significantly different economic and demographic characteristics.
For predominantly farming communities, he appears to favour development interventions that directly address agricultural production, processing, storage, transportation and market access rather than simply extending market operating hours.
His position also brings the issue of community consultation into the discussion, particularly regarding the selection of project locations and the economic needs of beneficiaries.
The comment is likely to fuel further debate over how the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy should be implemented at the district level and whether individual projects should be adapted to reflect the economic realities, lifestyles and purchasing patterns of local communities.
By 1960news.com
