President Mahama cuts sod for 24-Hour economy market at Juapong 

President John Dramani Mahama has cut the sod for the construction of a modern 24-Hour Economy Market at Juapong in the North Tongu District, describing the project as a transformative investment that will drive agriculture, trade, industrialisation and job creation in the Volta Region.

The President said Juapong's strategic location along the Volta River, combined with its rich agricultural potential and industrial heritage, made it an ideal commercial hub capable of supporting Ghana's economic transformation under the Government's 24-Hour Economy agenda.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and residents on Thursday, President Mahama said the facility would serve as more than a traditional market, explaining that it had been designed as a modern enterprise centre to support aggregation, storage, processing, packaging, digital commerce, financial services and efficient distribution of agricultural produce.

He said the market would provide farmers with reliable access to organised markets, reduce post-harvest losses, improve incomes and create new opportunities for traders, artisans, transport operators, food processors and other businesses while strengthening local value chains.

President Mahama explained that the Juapong project formed part of Government's plan to construct model 24-Hour Economy markets in all 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, adding that every district in the Volta Region would benefit from the initiative.

He announced that Juapong would receive one of the country's largest Category Four markets, despite not being a metropolitan assembly, because of its economic importance and strategic location.

The President said the facility would comprise 100 lockable stores, 150 market stalls, 10 warehouses, a supermarket, restaurants and food courts, a livestock section, butcher shops with cold storage, a police post, fire station, clinic, pharmacy, daycare centre, washrooms, administrative offices and a branch of the Women's Development Bank to support women entrepreneurs.

He said each market would also have a dedicated administrator to ensure proper management, sanitation and maintenance, stressing that the success of the 24-Hour Economy policy would be measured by business expansion, job creation, higher farmer incomes and the competitiveness of Ghanaian products rather than simply extending working hours.

President Mahama announced that Government was implementing the Volta Economic Corridor to integrate agriculture, manufacturing, aquaculture, logistics, inland water transport, renewable energy, tourism and export-led industrialisation into one interconnected economic system, with Juapong expected to play a pivotal role.

He reaffirmed Government's commitment to reviving the Volta Star Textile Limited through strategic investment and modernisation, adding that procurement processes were also underway to secure a new contractor for the long-awaited Volivo Bridge after the previous contract stalled.

The President encouraged young people to seize emerging opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, logistics, digital services and entrepreneurship, assuring traders displaced by the construction works that they would receive priority in the allocation of shops and stalls when the market was completed.

He also announced that the area's Member of Parliament and Minister for Foreign Affairs had donated 100 deep freezers to support traders affected by the temporary relocation, and urged the contractor, traditional authorities and residents to work together to ensure the timely completion of the project.

President Mahama said the market, together with the revitalisation of Volta Star Textile Limited and the implementation of the Volta Economic Corridor, marked the beginning of a new phase of economic transformation for Juapong and the Volta Region.

Torgbui Manklalo Agbohla VI, President of the Dorfor Traditional Council, expressed gratitude to President Mahama for honouring the community with his visit and commended his administration for the numerous development projects undertaken in the district.

He particularly thanked the President for appointing Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, describing the appointment as a source of pride for the district and evidence of the President's confidence in young and competent leaders.

The traditional ruler also acknowledged Government's investments in road infrastructure, education and local development, including the construction of the Juapong-Adidome and Juapong-Aveyime roads, senior high school dormitories and dining halls, GETFund projects, and the release of the District Assemblies Common Fund to support community infrastructure.

He assured President Mahama of the commitment of the traditional authorities to maintain peace and stability and to work closely with Government to ensure the successful implementation of the 24-Hour Economy Market project and other development initiatives in the North Tongu District.

GNA