General News of Sunday, 24 December 2023

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

‘We are jealous of the New Kejetia Market, replicate it for us’ – Awutu Traditional Council tells Mahama

File photo of Kejetia market File photo of Kejetia market

The Awutu Traditional Council have made a fervent appeal to the former President, requesting the establishment of a market similar to the New Kejetia Market in Kumasi within the Awutu area.

Abokuade Agyeman Tettey Otabil III, President of the Awutu Traditional Council, expressed the need for infrastructure that would facilitate trade in the region. He emphasized the abundance of land for cultivating various products but highlighted the absence of a dedicated market.

He stated, "If you go to places like Agbogbloshie, Mallam Attah market, you will hear 'Bawjiase bankye, Bawjiase bankye, Bontrase bayerɛ,' meaning we have the produce coming from our place to Accra. We are pleading with you, that beautiful edifice you put up for the people of Kumasi, that is the Kejetia market, we are jealous of it. You must do all in your power to give us a befitting market."

The chief also revealed the Traditional Council's endorsement of John Mahama's proposed 24-hour economy, expressing their commitment to support industrial development in the area.

He pledged, "We plead with you, once you come into office, you should immediately establish 10 factories in Awutu. Because this 24-hour economy will really help us. We will do it. The youth don’t have jobs to do. We will all put our hands to it and make it."

In response, John Mahama assured the Traditional Council of his commitment to regional development. He outlined plans for creating an industrial hub on the Western corridor, emphasizing the need to decentralize industrial development.

"It will be a deliberate policy of ours to bring industrial development to the Western part because we cannot make all the factories be concentrated at one place," Mahama said.

He further elaborated on engaging the private sector to participate in this initiative.

"Once we do this, the private sector themselves will come for the land and build pharmaceutical industries, soap production factories, different factories, vegetable cooking factories, etc. And so we must immediately prepare for that to happen, and this perfectly fits into the 24-hour economy."

John Mahama, in the midst of his campaign in the Central region, has been actively seeking input from various segments of the population for the crafting of the People's Manifesto.

His engagements have included discussions with chiefs, students, teachers, market women, and the youth, all expressing confidence in his 24-hour economic policy suggestion.

Ghana’s leading digital news platform, GhanaWeb, in conjunction with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, is embarking on an aggressive campaign which is geared towards ensuring that parliament passes comprehensive legislation to guide organ harvesting, organ donation, and organ transplantation in the country.

NAY/NOQ