Kasoa (C/R), Nov. 26, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Adjei Darko, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has said henceforth markets in the country would have management and board of directors to ensure peaceful and smooth operations.

He said members of the management, which would be working under a manager, would include representatives from the District Assemblies/Urban Councils, the private sector and others stakeholders. The Minister was speaking at the commissioning of a 4.1 billion cedis Kasoa Modern Market on Thursday at Kasoa.

He said the new policy would start with the Kasoa Market on a pilot base, and would be extended to other parts of the country. The Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Assembly constructed the market with financial assistance from the World Bank and the Ghana Government.

Mr Adjei Darko explained that under the new plan, chiefs would be briefed about the operations of the markets and required to contribute towards the maintenance and sustenance of the facilities. He commended the people of Kasoa and the District Assembly for not allowing partisan politics to hinder the construction of the market, as was happening in other parts of the country.

The Minister appealed to the district assemblies to liaise with chiefs to release lands for the creation of land banks to attract investors into the country.

In a speech read for the Minister for Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Major (rtd) Courage Quashigah, he gave the assurance that the ministry would continue to collaborate with other ministries to provide more facilities at the market.

The District Chief Executive, Captain Steve Armah said the old Kasoa market would give way for the construction of the Mallam-Junction-Winneba-Junction road that was in progress. He said about 4,000 women would be relocated to the new market, which had a police station, a fire station, toilet and lorry park and other facilities.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze appealed to the people to vote massively for the New Patriotic Party government to enable it to continue with the goods works it had started in the District.

The Omanhene of Awutu Traditional Area, Nai Acheampong Otabil X expressed concern about children of school going age found selling or loitering at the old market.

He said the Traditional Council would collaborate with the Assembly to enact a bye-law to regulate the activities of such children and prosecute their children.

Nai Otabil appealed to the government to allow the traders to move to the new market in January next year, to enable them to have adequate time to relocate.