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The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over what it describes as the demolition of existing markets and other public and community infrastructure to make way for the Government’s 24-Hour Economy Market Programme.
The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over what it describes as the demolition of existing markets and other public and community infrastructure to make way for the Government’s 24-Hour Economy Market Programme.
At a press conference addressed by Francis Asenso-Boakye, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee, the Minority questioned the economic justification for demolishing functioning or recently constructed public facilities only to replace them with new markets.
Among the cases cited was the Nkenkaasu Market in the Offinso North District, which the Minority said was constructed and commissioned under former President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2007 and had served the community for years before it was reportedly demolished to make way for a 24-hour economy market.
The Minority also cited the Enchi Market in the Aowin Constituency, describing it as a newly constructed market that was yet to be occupied by the community before it was reportedly pulled down despite resistance from residents. It questioned why public resources would first be used to construct a facility, only for another public programme to demolish it before it could be put to use.
Other cases cited included an astroturf under construction at Mamponteng in the Kwabre East Municipality, which the Minority said had been demolished for the programme, as well as a community bank facility at Aboabo and a Magistrate Court in Nandom, which were also reportedly demolished.
In the Ahafo Ano South West District in the Ashanti Region, the Minority said a newly constructed school had reportedly been earmarked for demolition to make way for a 24-hour economy market.
More disturbing, it said, was the fact that grading had already taken place and foundation works had commenced in the middle of the school premises.
The Minority questioned why a newly constructed educational facility would be earmarked for demolition at a time when communities continue to require basic educational facilities, saying the development raised serious concerns about planning, priorities and value for money.
The Minority further cited the 70-year-old Tendamba Primary School in Wa, which it said had been pulled down, as well as the reported demolition of homes and shops at Poyentanga to create space for the proposed market.
It also pointed to the Mankrong Market in the Agona East District, the New Thursday Central Market in Wenchi, the Abor Market in the Keta Municipality, commercial structures at the Kasoa New Market, and a newly built storey building in Elubo as further examples of existing facilities and structures affected by the programme.
According to the Minority, the developments point to a broader concern over the destruction of existing public and community assets in the implementation of the programme.
“At a time of severe fiscal constraints, Government must explain the economic justification for destroying useful and, in some cases, recently constructed public assets, only to spend scarce public resources replacing them,” the Minority said.
The Minority stressed that it was not opposed to modern markets but insisted that development projects must be subjected to proper planning, consultation and value-for-money considerations.
“We cannot destroy useful public and community assets merely to replace them in the name of a new political programme,” the Minority said.
It called on Government to protect existing public assets, deepen consultation with affected communities and ensure that public resources are used in a manner that delivers the greatest benefit to citizens.
