President Mahama cut sod for commencement of Tamale and Bimbilla 24-hour economy markets

President John Mahama has announced that his government is taking steps to establish five maize processing plants across the country.

The processing plants he added are part of efforts to boost agro-industrialisation and adding value to local produce.

President Mahaha made the announcement during his Resetting Ghana tour of the Northern Region.

He is on a two-day tour, where he cut sods for commencement of construction works for the Bimibilla and Tamale 24 hour Economy model markets.

The 24 hour economy markets which is a component of the broader 24-hour economy policy by the Mahama government are to benefit all MMDAs across the country.

The market projects would have ancillary facilities including fire and police posts, kindagatens, clinics, outlets for the womens development bank, stores, stalls, storage facilities, lavatories as well as lorry terminals.

The two separate events attracted traditional and religious leaders, the Political class, locals residents among others.

President Mahama explained that the new market models were part of the broader 24-hour economy agenda by his government to stimulate economic activities in the country.

“Most of our activities across the country happens around markets, but it has to be quality and co.ordinated,” he said.

Mr Mahama opined that having a structured market is important for agriculcultural productivity as this serve as linkage between famers and consumers.

The President said his government is liaising with research institutions such as the CSIR to adding value to agricultural produce like yam by turning them into flour on a larger scale just as it’s done for cassava and plantain from the south.

The President tasked the contractors executing the various 24-hour model market projects to do quality jobs that will last over time.

Turning to other needs and requests from the chiefs, President Mahama promised to source funding for the Tamale, Yendi and Damongo water projects, saying these will happen in his life time as presidents.

He also said over 2000 kilometres of roads are being constructed all over the country under the Big Push agenda of his government and attention will be given to all deserving localities especially the economic and food hubs including the Nanumba areas.

At Bimbilla, he debunked assertions that the tricycles given to health personnel and volunteers under the newly launched Free Primary Health Care (PHC) at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region, were ambulances.

“Let my stated clearly that those tricycles aren’t ambulances, but they are to transport health volunteers and they have components equipped with vaccines and other health essentials,” he explained.

As Part of President Mahama’s northern trip, he inspected a 300 bed capacity hostel at the Bimbilla Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Collage of education campus.

He also had first hand tour of ongoing construction works on the 3rd Ringway roads that connects Tamale and Sanarigu.

Story by: Nelson Adanuti Nyadror |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.