The Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe, has officially handed over the site for the construction of a 24-hour economy market to CK Engineering Company Limited in the West Gonja Municipality.
The project, to be developed at the Damongo Daily Market, comes after weeks of disagreement over its location—an issue that was eventually resolved through broad stakeholder consultations.
Salisu Be-Awuribe indicated that with the signing and presentation of the contract documents, the contractor now has full access to the site and is expected to begin work immediately.
He emphasised that the 30-month project timeline has taken effect, stressing the need for swift commencement of construction.
He further disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama is expected to perform the sod-cutting ceremony, and therefore, visible progress must be made ahead of his visit.
“He does not cut sword when the job has not started to an appreciable level. I know you have committed yourselves to even do it faster than the prescribed time and we are waiting,” he said to the contractor, CK Engineering Company Limited.
The Municipal Chief Executive for West Gonja, Yakubu Yussif, has advised traders affected by the project to relocate to the weekly Saturday market.
He explained that about 80 percent of traders at the daily market currently operate from rented stores, while arrangements are nearly complete to accommodate the remaining 20 percent at the Saturday Market to ensure business continuity.
While some traders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant boost to local commerce, others argue that the project should have been sited elsewhere to expand trading space rather than replace the existing market.
Meanwhile, a section of affected traders has expressed frustration over the demolition of their shops.
They say they have been left stranded without immediate alternatives and are calling on authorities to provide urgent support.
“The market they have asked us to move into, I don’t have a shop there so how are we going to survive?” a trader questioned.
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