The Minority Caucus in Parliament has raised concerns over the demolition of existing infrsturcture for the Mahama-led government’s 24-Hour Markets programme.
According to NPP MPs, the move, while intended to improve trading infrastructure and stimulate local economic activity, will undermine decentralisation in its implementation and risks imposing a uniform development model on districts without adequate regard for their specific needs and development plans.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, September 19, 2026, Ranking Member of the Local Government Committee of Parliament, Francis Asenso-Boakye, said the developments raise serious questions about planning, consultation and value for money.
“We cannot preach decentralisation while imposing development priorities from the centre. We cannot destroy useful public and community assets merely to replace them in the name of a new political programme,” he said.
“Even more disturbing is the demolition or proposed demolition of existing public and community infrastructure to make way for some of these 24-Hour Markets. The examples emerging across the country raise serious questions about planning, consultation, and value for money,” he added.
The Bantama MP also noted that the Minority had identified several public facilities that had either been demolished or were reportedly being considered for demolition to accommodate the construction of 24-hour economy markets.
He cited the Asesewa Market in the Upper Manya Krobo area, which he said had been earmarked for demolition, and an astroturf project under construction at Mamponteng in the Kwabre East Municipality, which he alleged had been demolished to make way for a market.
He also mentioned the Nkenkaasu Market in the Offinso North District, saying the facility, constructed and commissioned under former President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2007, had served the community before it was reportedly pulled down.
According to him, a community bank facility at Aboabo had similarly been demolished.
Mr Asenso-Boakye further expressed concern over a newly constructed school in the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti Region, which he said had reportedly been designated as the site for a 24-hour economy market.
He claimed that grading had already been carried out and foundation works had begun within the school premises and questioned the rationale for considering the demolition of a recently constructed educational facility when many communities still faced shortages of basic school infrastructure.
He said the Minority had also received reports of the demolition of a Magistrate Court in Nandom in the Upper West Region and the Enchi Market in the Aowin Constituency of the Western North Region.
Mr Asenso-Boakye said the Enchi Market had been newly constructed but had not yet been occupied before it was reportedly demolished, despite opposition from residents.
The Minority further pointed to reported demolitions in Wa, including the 70-year-old Tendamba Primary School, as well as similar concerns in Poyentanga, Agona East, Wenchi, Keta, Kasoa and Elubo.
Mr Asenso-Boakye also cited resistance from traders at Nungua, Kwabenya, Aiyinase, Ashaiman and Kokomba markets.
“These are not isolated concerns. Together, they point to a troubling pattern: existing markets, newly constructed facilities, schools, businesses, homes and other community assets are being displaced or demolished in the name of a programme whose local economic justification has not been sufficiently demonstrated,” he said.
Mr Asenso-Boakye called on the government to account for the economic rationale behind demolishing useful public assets, including recently completed facilities, only to commit additional resources to their replacement.
“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,” he added.
He also criticised what he described as inadequate consultation with district authorities.
“The 24-Hour Markets programme cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution. To impose the same project across districts without adequate regard for their development plans undermines the very principles of decentralisation,” he stated.
“We in the Minority, on behalf of the good people of Ghana, call on the government to have a look at the 24-Hour Market programme design and deepen consultation by undertaking an immediate, comprehensive, and nonpartisan review,” he said.
The 24-Hour Markets programme is a flagship government intervention aimed at providing decent, organised trading centres for traders, farmers, producers and consumers across the country, to support economic activity within local communities.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
