"24-hour economy market is for the people of Cape Coast" - MCE clarifies

The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Cape Coast, George Justice Arthur, has clarified that the proposed 24-hour economy market is intended to serve the entire metropolis and not a specific constituency.

Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting held at Abura Calvary Methodist Church to mark his one year in office, Hon. George Justice Arthur addressed growing public debate surrounding the siting of the project.

According to him, the initiative is a metropolitan development project designed to boost economic activity across the city, rather than being limited to either Cape Coast North or Cape Coast South.

He stressed that the vision behind the 24-hour economy policy is to enhance trading opportunities, improve livelihoods, and complement existing commercial hubs such as Kotokoraba Market, which remains the largest and busiest market in the city.

The clarification comes amid increasing agitation and competing proposals from stakeholders, particularly residents and opinion leaders in Cape Coast North, many of whom believe the project should be located at Abura.

A number of discussions on social media, especially Facebook, suggest strong sentiment from some residents advocating for the market to be sited in Cape Coast North. Some users argue that Cape Coast North deserves the 24-hour economy market, insisting that earlier expectations pointed in that direction.

Other opinions circulating online also suggest that the market should be placed in Cape Coast North, with proposals that alternative projects could be allocated to the southern enclave instead. There have also been calls from some stakeholders for authorities to reconsider the current proposal and relocate the project to Abura.

The debate has further sparked tension among some political actors and local stakeholders, highlighting the significance of the project and its potential economic impact on different parts of the metropolis.

In response to the controversy, the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly has indicated that there have been misconceptions surrounding the project’s siting, urging residents to focus on the broader developmental impact rather than sectional interests.

Hon. George Justice Arthur reiterated this position at the Town Hall Meeting, emphasizing that the project is part of a larger economic transformation agenda and should be viewed as a shared asset for all residents of the metropolis.