The Ayawaso North Municipal Chief Executive, Mohammed Awal, has attributed delays in the construction of the municipality’s proposed 24-Hour Economy Model Market to challenges in relocating traders and residents occupying the project site at Kaasuankuda in Maamobi.
According to him, the municipality has no alternative land available for the project, making the current site the only viable location for the market.
Speaking to Citi News, Mohammed Awal explained that the Assembly covers a land area of about 15.72 acres and has exhausted available space for major development projects.
“We don’t have space. That is the only asset we’ve got as a community, so we are pleading with the occupants to please pave way. Since we have been able to acquire a place for them, at least they should pave way and go settle there for us to go on with the developmental project,” he said.
The Assembly has proposed relocating the affected traders and residents to Ayikuma near Dodowa in the Shai Osudoku District to allow construction to commence.
Mohammed Awal assured the occupants that they would be given priority access to the market once the project is completed.
“After we’re done, they will be the first point of call before we look outside the box,” he stated.
The MCE disclosed that funds earmarked for the project remain untouched because construction cannot begin until the relocation exercise is completed.
“The money is there sitting in the account, but due to my inability to move the people as early as possible, the money is still there. Should I be able to move them, we can go on with the developmental project to aid the community so that everyone within the community will benefit from the government’s flagship programme,” he explained.
He added that, the market is expected to be completed within 18 months after construction begins.
Awal further revealed that although the Assembly initially budgeted GH¢58 million under the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation, it eventually received GH¢42 million, of which only about 10 percent has been utilised.
He therefore appealed to the affected occupants to cooperate with the Assembly and support what he described as a critical development initiative for the municipality.
“We are pleading with them to pave way for this developmental project within the Ayawaso North Municipality. Ayawaso North deserves better,” he said.
Read Also:
NPP Disciplinary Committee given 2 weeks to probe Ken Agyapong petitions
