The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly has awarded contracts for the construction of 128 lockable market stores at Aboabo and Lamashegu as part of efforts to boost local commerce and support small businesses within the metropolis.
Mayor of Tamale, Hon. Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, announced this during the Assembly’s stakeholder engagement and Town Hall Meeting held under the Government’s “Accounting to the People” initiative.
The engagement forms part of the Mahama administration’s broader Resetting Agenda, which seeks to deepen accountability and strengthen citizen participation in local governance across the country.
According to the Mayor, the market stores are being developed under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement to improve trading conditions and stimulate economic growth within the metropolis.
Hon. Takoro also announced the commencement of the Government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy Market Project at Kukuo after President John Dramani Mahama cut sod for the project on 18 April 2026.
He explained that the project is expected to be completed within 24 months and will include modern market stalls, warehouses, restaurants, cold rooms, a clinic, daycare centre, police post and fire station.
“The project is aimed at transforming economic activity within the metropolis while creating opportunities for businesses, traders and young people,” he stated.
The Mayor noted that Tamale continues to play a strategic commercial role as the only metropolis within the five regions of Northern Ghana and serves as a major business hub connecting Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Northern Togo.
Beyond market infrastructure, Hon. Takoro disclosed that over 1,600 beneficiaries, particularly women and unemployed youth, had benefited from entrepreneurship and vocational skills training programmes under the Ghana Enterprise Agency and Mastercard Foundation initiatives.
He added that beneficiaries received training in business development and entrepreneurship, while others were provided startup kits and grants to establish businesses.
A total of 1,338 young people have also benefited from various modules under the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), according to the Mayor.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, the Acting Chief Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Sumaila Ewuntomah Abudu, described the stakeholder engagement as a critical avenue for promoting inclusive governance and local development.
According to him, the initiative demonstrates government’s commitment to bringing governance closer to the people and creating opportunities for citizens to contribute to development planning.
Mr. Abudu commended the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly for organising the forum and reaffirmed the NRCC’s commitment to supporting assemblies to implement programmes that improve livelihoods and accelerate socio-economic development.
The programme brought together traditional leaders, religious groups, civil society organisations, assembly members and residents of the metropolis.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
