The chiefs and people of Asekye, a farming community in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region, are appealing to government authorities, philanthropists, and development partners to help complete a long-abandoned market project that was initiated nine years ago.
Asekye’s economy thrives on agriculture and local trade. The community is known for producing crops such as beans, yam, cabbage, watermelon, and maize, which are traded among residents and neighboring villages. However, the absence of a local marketplace continues to hinder their economic progress.
Currently, residents must travel to nearby towns like Nkoranza and Busunya to sell or purchase goods a situation that creates inconvenience, increases transportation costs, and limits access to fresh produce and other essential food items.
According to the Chief of Asekye, Nana Poku Dankonto, the market project was initiated in 2016 by the previous government through the efforts of former Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major (Rtd.) Derrick Oduro.
The market, he explained, was intended to benefit the people of Asekye and the broader Nkoranza North District.
Although the people of Asekye selected the market’s location themselves, construction stalled after partial completion. The site currently includes 30 uncompleted storerooms and an unfinished 20-seater toilet facility.
Nana Dankonto emphasized that completing the market is a pressing need, adding that a warehouse must also be constructed before the market can be fully operational. “We cannot use the market until a warehouse is built to store unsold goods and protect them from spoilage,” he said.
He passionately appealed to the government, corporate bodies, and benevolent individuals to support the completion of the market and construction of the warehouse, which he believes will transform the local economy.
Some community members echoed the chief’s sentiments, expressing frustration over the delayed project and the lack of storage facilities.
They stressed the importance of completing the market to promote local trade and reduce economic hardship.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
