Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, says the Ministry intends to pilot 24-hour economy market centres in selected Metropolises, Municipalities, and Districts to help boost the local economy.
He said the Ministry would collaborate with Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to implement the pilot, which would also include provisions for a Women Development Bank.
“We are creating the policy environment, providing security infrastructure, and working with RCCs and MMDAs to pilot 24-hour market centres with provision for the Women Development Bank,” he stated.
Mr. Ibrahim made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the opening of a two-day private sector forum on investment opportunities and access to finance for women and youth entrepreneurs in Bolgatanga.
The forum, themed “Enhancing Social Cohesion and Social Contract Through Empowerment of Women and Youth in Three Northern Regions of Ghana,” was organised by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The NDPC has developed an investment strategy toolkit to assist eight districts across the Upper East, North East, and Upper West Regions to identify their comparative advantages and develop targeted strategies to attract investment and enhance domestic revenue mobilisation.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the strategy, a series of private sector forums will be held in the regional capitals of the three regions, focusing on the participating districts.
In the Upper East Region, the beneficiary districts include Garu, Bawku West, and Bongo.
The objective of these fora is to strengthen collaboration among private sector actors, philanthropic organisations, local government authorities, and women and youth groups, with the aim of unlocking investment opportunities and promoting local economic development.
Mr. Ibrahim noted that the 24-Hour Economy initiative, introduced by the Mahama-led government, envisions a round-the-clock productive Ghana.
“In practical terms, this means shift systems in factories, extended market hours, and nighttime public services,” he explained.
He urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives to pay critical attention to the initiative, stressing that “The 24-Hour Economy is a reality and should be a game-changer.”
The Minister further explained that under the 24-hour economy market plan, MMDAs would situate these markets in city centres and ensure that essential services such as pharmacies, police and fire stations, health posts, and fuel stations are available around the clock.
He added that the markets would be well-lit with solar-powered energy to enable nighttime business activity, concluding: “This is what President Mahama is bringing.”
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