Hundreds of structures at the Aboabo Market in the Ashanti Region have been demolished by the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly to pave the way for the construction of the government’s proposed 24-Hour Economy Model Market.
The Assembly described the exercise as peaceful and successful, saying the project has now taken off smoothly after contractors officially took possession of the land following months of consultations with traders, property owners and community stakeholders.
The Aboabo Market has been earmarked as a strategic site for the government’s flagship 24-hour economy initiative, with local authorities insisting that continuous engagement with affected persons helped secure cooperation throughout the demolition process.
Chairman of the Aboabo Market, Shaibu Zakari, said the redevelopment project would significantly transform economic activity in the community, stressing that the market remains the area’s main commercial hub.
“The community, in its entirety, has no single market apart from this. This is the only market we have. So in fact, when this market is built, it is going to bring in other people from other areas to come and do business with us,” he said.
He also rejected perceptions that Zongo communities are resistant to development, noting that the demolition exercise was carried out without resistance or heavy security presence due to extensive stakeholder engagement involving chiefs, imams, traders and residents.
Municipal Chief Executive for Asokore Mampong, Ben Abdallah Alhassan, assured displaced traders that they would be given priority allocation in the new market upon completion. According to him, the Assembly has both hard and soft copy records of all previous occupants to ensure transparency in the reallocation process.
The Assembly said the new market infrastructure will include sheds and lockable shops, a parking area, police and fire service posts, a 24-hour clinic and pharmacy, a daycare centre, and a Women’s Bank component aimed at supporting economic activity under the government’s 24-hour economy agenda.
