Atuba (U/E), April 19, GNA - A five-hundred-million-cedi market complex was commissioned at Atuba near Bawku last Thursday by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu.

The facility, which comprises 20 stores, two-unit sheds and a place of convenience, was constructed by the Bawku East Municipal Assembly with support from the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP).

Commissioning it, the Regional Minister urged market users to observe sound hygienic conditions and keep the place tidy at all times. He reiterated government's determination to support projects aimed at improving the living conditions in rural communities so as to alleviate poverty.

He further stated that the provision of infrastructure in the rural areas is testimony of government's commitment to its policy of making life bearable to the vast majority of citizens who are hard hit by socio-economic constraints.

Mr. Salifu told the people that development thrives in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, so they should tolerate each other's views and co-exist peacefully to attract more development projects to the area.

"Petty squabbles over differences of opinion in the past resulted in violent conflicts that exacerbated poverty and denied your area its fair share of development," he observed, adding that they should resolve to bury their differences and forge ahead in unity for a better future.

In a welcoming address, the Bawku East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Abdul-Rahman Gumah, urged residents of the area to let the market become a unifying factor that would make a positive impact on their lives.

He also called on them to ensure that commercial activity goes on in the market unhindered, adding that they should let the overall progress of the community to supersede their parochial individual interests.

He urged the people to help the Area Council run the affairs of the market smoothly and charged market users to pay their tolls regularly to enable the Assembly raise the requisite revenue for more development projects in the area.

On the impending polls in December, Mr. Gumah appealed to the people to conduct all political activity in a civilized and tolerant manner to prevent the recurrence of unfortunate incidents similar to those of December 2000.

The Assemblyman for the area, Mr. John Agobre, commended the government for providing the community with a market, saying that it was a giant step towards poverty reduction and accelerating the development of the area.

He appealed to the Regional Minister and the Municipal Chief Executive to ensure that the Atuba Primary School, which has only one teacher handling over 200 pupils, is adequately staffed to improve upon education in the area.