The Minority Caucus in Parliament is calling on the government to broaden consultations with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities and other stakeholders before proceeding with the construction of 24-hour markets across the country.

The Minority says it is “not against the construction of markets” but is concerned about the manner in which the government is implementing the initiative, particularly the demolition of existing facilities that could instead be renovated or modernised.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament, the Ranking Member on the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Committee, Francis Asenso Boakye said “the manner in which the government is going about the initiative” is what the Minority finds troubling.

He argued that demolishing functioning facilities to make way for new projects could amount to a waste of public resources.

According to Hon. Asenso Boakye, “existing markets that need only innovation” are being pulled down instead of being improved to serve the needs of the people.

He further cited several facilities including “schools, existing markets, banks, courts and others” which, he said, have been demolished or affected in the process of implementing the 24-hour market initiative.

The Minority ranking member questioned the rationale behind demolishing facilities that could potentially be upgraded, stressing that government must ensure that public resources are used efficiently.

He said the government should not assume that the construction of new markets is automatically the priority of every community.

“We are asking the government to consult the assemblies, traditional leaders and CSOs to know the exact intervention they want in the area,” he said.

Hon. Asenso Boakye maintained that local authorities and traditional leaders are better positioned to identify the pressing needs of their communities and should therefore have a meaningful role in determining government interventions.

The Minority believes the broad consultations will ensure that government projects “respond to the genuine needs of the people” while preventing the unnecessary destruction of existing infrastructure and the waste of public resources.

The Minority insists that it supports development initiatives but wants government to prioritise consultation, value for money and the actual needs of communities in implementing the 24-hour market programme.