Accra: Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), has called on Regional Ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to take keen interest in the execution of the government’s 24-Hour Model Market Initiative. He described the initiative as a ‘visionary undertaking’ by President John Dramani Mahama aimed at transforming Ghana’s local economies. The Minister was speaking at the Orientation Session on the 24-Hour Economy Model Market Initiative for Regional Ministers and MMDCEs in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Ibrahim stated that the initiative represents a cornerstone of the President’s broader 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, which seeks to reposition Ghana as a modern, self-reliant, and globally competitive economy operating efficiently around the clock. He emphasized that the leadership of the Regional Ministers and the MMDCEs would determine the success of this national rollout, not as a pilot project, but as a full-scale transformation of the local economic landscape.
The initiative aligns closely with the government’s Local Economic Development (LED) Policy (2024-2029), which emphasizes infrastructure-led growth, job creation, and inclusive development. The model markets, which would operate 24 hours a day as modern economic hubs, will be equipped with essential facilities such as cold storage, digital payment systems, sanitation blocks, childcare centers, police posts, and women’s banks. These markets are expected to create decent jobs for women and youth, enhance trading conditions, reduce congestion, and increase revenue for local governments.
Mr Ibrahim highlighted the connection between the model markets and the government’s Big Push Agenda, which focuses on massive investments in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, energy, and urban systems to support nationwide productivity. He also outlined the specific roles expected of MMDCEs and Regional Ministers under the Local Governance Act (Act 936), including identifying zones for 24-hour operations, ensuring security and sanitation, and facilitating permits, among others.
He urged the Regional Coordinating Councils to ensure proper supervision, standardization, and timely execution of these flagship projects, stressing that the program is beyond politics and is about building a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive Ghanaian economy. Mr Ibrahim called on all stakeholders to embrace the 24-Hour Model Market Initiative as a collective mission for national progress.
Alhaji Amin Abdul Rahman, the Chief Director of MLGCRA, noted that the Regional Ministers and MMDCEs would be taken through the various prototype designs by the various consultants. He expressed confidence that the presentations and discussions would provide a comprehensive overview of the model market designs, implementation strategies, and the strategic roles of all Regional Coordinating Councils and MMDAs. He emphasized the importance of active participation and honest feedback as the initiative moves from the planning phase to the implementation phase, trusting that the insights shared would empower leaders to effectively lead this transformation within their respective jurisdictions.