The Government of Ghana has announced plans to remodel its flagship 24-Hour Economy Markets program, renaming it District Economy Markets. This initiative aims to ensure that every district in the country has a model market. The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, made this announcement at the Government Accountability Series Press Conference held at the Presidency in Accra on Monday.
According to Mr. Ayariga, the 24-Hour Economy Markets program had created the impression that the government's flagship program was solely about markets. To clarify, he stated that the program was actually about promoting the redesign of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Economy Markets Policy. The minister explained that the markets were at various stages of construction and implementation across 261 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies.
The District Economy Markets project has been re-scoped into two phases to enable speedier delivery and more structured financing. The first phase focuses on delivering market stores, sheds, and essential commercial spaces, while the second phase will provide social amenities such as police stations, fire stations, and other essential services. Mr. Ayariga stated that the government aims to achieve 100 percent completion of the project by 2028.
To ensure the project's success, the government has set up a committee to review the pace of work and contractors' capacity. Contractors who demonstrate a lack of capacity will have their contracts terminated and reassigned to more competent contractors. Mr. Ayariga also mentioned that funding for phase one is readily available for contractors who complete their contracts.
In addition to the District Economy Markets project, Mr. Ayariga discussed the capacity of assemblies to establish education institutions, healthcare facilities, and implement development projects. He reported that significant progress had been made, with 397 out of 566 CHPS and health centers completed, 502 out of 761 classroom blocks completed, and 3,081 out of 4,029 mechanized and hand pump boreholes completed.
The Minister also highlighted the success of the District Assemblies Performance Assessment (D-PATs) program, which assesses district assemblies based on certain criteria. As a result of the D-PAT program, approximately GHS 840 million had been transferred to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) this year to implement activities in their annual action plans.
Furthermore, Mr. Ayariga announced that the Ministry had facilitated the release and disbursement of four trenches in the sum of GHS 107 million in respect of consolidated monthly allowances in 2025 and GHS 106 million for 2026 to all assembly members. He confirmed that this year's allocation had been transferred by the Controller Accountant General.
Key points
- The government aims to achieve 100 percent completion of the District Economy Markets project by 2028.
- The project has been re-scoped into two phases to enable speedier delivery and more structured financing.
- Approximately GHS 840 million had been transferred to all MMDAs this year to implement activities in their annual action plans.
