Bawku (U/E), April 16, GNA - The Upper East Regional Minister Mr Boniface Gambilla, has given the assurance that the Bawku Central Market which has not been need since its commissioning almost two years ago, would soon be opened for commercial activity. He said, the Regional c-coordinating Council would step in to allocate the market stalls and sheds if the Bawku Municipal Assembly failed in its last bid to settle the impasse over the allocation procedures.

Mr Gambilla noted with deep concern the loss of revenue that would have accrued to the assembly if the market had been use, adding that the intended purpose of the market would not benefit the people if immediate steps were not taken.

The Regional Minister who gave the assurance at the Bawku Municipal People's Assembly in Bawku on Wednesday, disclosed that the continuous neglect of the facility, could discourage its co-financiers from constructing more markets in the region.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Awudu Yirbren who hails from the area, the three NDC MPs in the area, NPP Regional and constituency executives, departmental heads and a cross-section of the population.

The impasse over the central market had been a bone of contention between the assembly and the Bawku Market Sellers Association (BMSA) on the allocation process. Whilst BMSA, wanted old sellers to be given priority the assembly wanted to allocate to all applicants whether old or new.

Mr Gambilla said his administration was concerned with the total development of the entire region and as such was prepared to work with all who had good intentions to move the region forward.

He called on the people of the area not to allow some few misguided elements to mislead them to do things that would portray Bawku as a place of disorder, stressing, " don't allow one man to destroy the whole people."

The Regional Minister also cautioned that if steps are not taken for the construction of the Bawku court buildings to commence, it would be relocated to the nearby districts, which would make their cases on board.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Abdul-Rahman Gumah, in his welcome address said the assembly had received 7.8 billion cedis as its share of HIPC Funds to implement projects in the education, health, water and sanitation sectors.

Mr Gumah said security in the area has improved tremendously, adding that the peaceful outcome of the general elections in 2004 is a testimony that the people are determined to sustain the peace for development.

He thanked the security services, NGOs, CBOs, religious groups and civil society groups who contributed to ensure that peace returned to the area.

The MCE announced that 5,000 people have registered for the NHIS and an amount of 40 million cedis realised as premium for the smooth take-off of the programme in the Bawku Municipality.