TRADERS EXPRESS MIXED REACTIONS OVER POTENTIAL DELAYS AFTER SOD CUTTING OF 24 HOUR ECONOMY MARKET
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sissala East, Hon. Adamu Yakubu, has officially broken ground for the construction of a modern market facility in Tumu, designed to anchor the municipality’s transition toward a 24-hour economy.
The project, valued at GH¢ 33 million with 40% of the total sum released, is being executed by Velin & Company Limited under the technical supervision of the Homeland resources limited. The development aims to replace aging structures with fire-resistant stalls, modern drainage, and high-intensity security lighting to facilitate round-the-clock commercial activities.
Addressing the community during the ceremony, Hon. Yakubu emphasized the strategic importance of the project in boosting local revenue and providing a safe environment for night-time trading. He specifically addressed the anxieties of those whose stores are slated for demolition, pledging that they would be given the first right of refusal upon completion.”We have a transparent record of every trader currently on this site. You are our priority. I give you my word that once these modern stores are finished, the original occupants will be the first to move back in,” the MCE assured. Despite these promises, the ceremony was marked by mixed reactions from the affected business owners. While many welcomed the prospect of modern facilities, there is a palpable fear that the project might suffer the fate of other stalled government initiatives in the region.
Madam Polley, a long-time trader at the market, expressed her skepticism regarding the construction timeline. While she admitted the current structures were in poor condition, she noted that a long delay would be devastating for her family’s livelihood.
“We are happy that Tumu is developing, and we want the 24-hour market, but our fear is the duration. We have seen projects start with energy only to be left halfway for years. If this stalls, where do we go?” she questioned.Echoing these sentiments, Mr. Gilbert, another affected store owner who repair phones, urged the assembly and the contractor to stick strictly to the thirty-month completion schedule. He noted that while the MCE’s assurance of priority allocation was encouraging, it would mean little if the project remained a “skeleton” for years.
The scope of work for the project includes the construction of a police post, fire post and hydrant, a 6-bed clinic, pharmacy, environmental office, market manager’s office, information center, parcel office with storage, 94 lockable shops, 150 open sheds, 176 open pavement selling areas, 17 showers, 18 washrooms (W/Cs), 10 warehouses, a lorry terminal for commercial vehicles, a lorry park for large trucks, a meat shop for 10 vendors, a cold store, refuse disposal and collection point, drainage system, food court, livestock bay, a creche for 30 pupils, a Women’s Bank, saloon/barbering shop, mall/supermarket, a 6-bed hostel with 6 guest rooms, and disability-friendly as well as security infrastructure to support 24-hour economic activities.
The project features intended to support a 24-hour economy include a dedicated security outpost, 24/7 water supply, and enhanced electrical infrastructure to support heavy-duty lighting.
As the heavy machinery moved in to begin site clearance, the traders looked on with a blend of hope and caution, calling on the Municipal Assembly to ensure that this project becomes a success story for the Sissala East Municipality.
By Bashiru Nuhu Bapagu