Bolgatanga market gets stores allocation committee

The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Awudu Yirimeah, has inaugurated a 10-member reconstituted market stores allocation committee for Bolgatanga Municipality.

Membership of the committee comprised representatives of Bolgatanga Traditional Council, the assembly, Tindamas and Market Users Association.

The rest are Bolgatanga Market Women Association, Town and Country Planning Department, Ghana Muslim Council, Catholic Diocese, Christian Council of Ghana and Ghana National Fire Service.

Alhaji Yirimeah asked the committee to ensure fair and equitable allocation of stores in the market, giving priority consideration to traders that originally owned stores before their demolition and reconstruction.

He cautioned against possible attempts by some prospective applicants to manipulate the system to acquire more than a store to the detriment of others, and urged the committee to be thorough in the screening process.

"You should ensure that stores allocation is orderly and transparent, and see to it that the stores are systematically classified to reflect commodity sections," he said.

Alhaji Yirimeah noted that markets played a key role in the socio-economic development of the people and contributed substantially to revenue mobilisation by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

He said: "If this committee work efficiently, Bolgatanga market will function well and contribute significantly to the reduction of poverty and the development of the municipality."

The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister announced that the committee was expected to submit its report to the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council on June 15.

Mr Isaac Nsoh Amoah, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, said the Central Market was demolished for reconstruction in 1997, under the World Bank's District-Wide Assistance Programme (DWAP).

He said an attempt by the assembly to allocate the stores last year, resulted in street protests by market users who accused the assembly of unfair treatment.

Mr Amoah said this necessitated the personal intervention of Mr Boniface Gambila, Upper East Regional Minister who after consultations with stakeholders in the operation of the market reconstituted the committee to allocate the stores.

Mr Joseph Ameyure, a Spokesman for the committee, expressed appreciation to the UERCC for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to discharge their duty to the satisfaction of all.

Source: GNA