Bawku central market opens for use

Bawku (U/E), June 20, GNA- The Bawku central market has finally been opened for use, ending a three-year period of non-usage since its commissioning by the then deputy Minister of Local Government & Rural Development, Captain (rtd) Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey.

The 3.9 billion cedis infrastructure, which was constructed with assistance from the EU micro-projects funds, could not be used due to an impasse over its allocation policy and ethnic tension following the aftermath of ethnic conflicts in 2002.

The market, which has 1,008 stalls, and 680 sheds capacity, then became a haven for harden criminals, including Indian hemp smokers, prostitutes and lunatics in the township to engage in their nefarious activities.

Committees that were set up to allocate the sheds and stalls were dissolved and reconstituted on several occasions following dissatisfaction between the assembly secretariat and assembly members. Matters came to a head in 2004 during an assembly sitting when two assembly members made disparaging remarks against the then District Coordinating Director over the market's use which resulted in a scuffle and ended the meeting abruptly.

A 331.5 million cedis day care nursery was later added to cater for the traders' pre-school children whiles power supply for security at night was in progress.

Commenting on the market, the Deputy Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Alhassan Fuseini, said its operation had been long overdue and expressed the hope that once there was peace in the area things were in order.

He said measures were in place to check any tendency that would incite ethnic unrest, adding that the market was a place for socio-economic interactions.

Mr. Fuseini expressed concern over the long delay in using the facility, saying that it had deprived the municipality of the needed revenue to undertake other development projects to bring relief to the people.

He called on the traders to ensure peace prevail at all times and to keep the place clean as well as honouring their tax obligations to ensure quality provision of services and order in the town to promote business activities.