Poyetanga 24-Hour Market Set to Become Upper West Regional Trading Hub

The Poyetanga 24-Hour Market is set to become a major trading hub in the Upper West Region, linking farmers, traders and consumers from surrounding communities and expanding opportunities for local economic activity.

President John Dramani Mahama said the strategic location of the market would enable it to attract traders and customers beyond Poyetanga, creating a modern commercial centre where agricultural produce and other goods could be traded.

He made the observation when he inspected the ongoing construction of the Poyetanga 24-Hour Market as part of his tour of the Upper West Region.

President Mahama said the project formed part of Government’s nationwide 24-Hour Market programme, which was aimed at stimulating economic activity and creating modern spaces where people could trade and generate livelihoods.

“Markets are the lifeblood of trade and local economic development,” the President stated, stressing the need for every district to have a decent and modern place where people could conduct business.

He said the Poyetanga facility would provide farmers with a reliable market for their produce while giving traders access to a wider customer base from communities around the area.

The President said the location of the market, coupled with improved road connectivity, would strengthen its potential to serve as a commercial centre for a wider area.

He noted that Government was also working to improve road infrastructure that would support the movement of people and goods, including the road linking Wa through Dorimon and Wechiau to the main Hamile Road.

President Mahama said the Roads and Highways Minister had inspected the road and assured him that it would be scoped for consideration under the next phase of the Big Push programme.

He said the proximity of the ongoing Sawla-Wa Road project presented an opportunity for Government to consider varying the existing contract to extend the works to cover the Wa-Wechiau section.

President Mahama said Government would seriously consider the proposal, including an appeal for a steel bridge in the area, which would further improve access and movement within the communities.

He explained that the development of markets could not be separated from road infrastructure because farmers needed accessible routes to transport their produce while traders and consumers required reliable connections to reach trading centres.

The President said the 24-Hour Market programme was being implemented across the country to expand economic activity beyond major urban centres and give communities modern facilities to support commerce.

He said every district should have a decent market where farmers could bring their produce to sell and where residents could obtain goods and services in a suitable trading environment.

President Mahama commended the contractor working on the Poyetanga project for the progress made, noting that construction had initially faced setbacks because of the clayey nature of the ground.

He said the soil conditions required time to stabilise the foundation before construction could proceed, but the contractor was now making up for lost time and the project was progressing well.

The President said the Government expected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to use part of their allocations to complete abandoned projects that could serve as legacy projects for their communities.

He said the approach formed part of Government’s broader effort to decentralise development and give local authorities greater control over resources to respond to the needs of their communities.

President Mahama said 80 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund was now being transferred directly to the assemblies, with timely releases enabling them to undertake development projects.

He urged the assemblies to use the resources for projects such as CHPS compounds, classroom blocks, sanitation facilities and other essential infrastructure that would improve conditions in their communities.

He also reminded the assemblies to release the five per cent allocation of the Common Fund for Persons with Disabilities and desist from diverting those resources.

President Mahama expressed confidence that the completion of the Poyetanga 24-Hour Market would provide a new platform for commerce, connect producers to consumers and strengthen economic activity in the surrounding communities.

He said the project reflected Government’s broader objective of ensuring that development and economic opportunities reached communities across the country, rather than being concentrated in major urban centres.