The new market complex in Akim Oda, was opened by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Chiefs’ and the locals’ joyous celebrations at the ceremony demonstrated the area’s advancement toward more advanced trading infrastructure.
The original market was destroyed by a fire in September 2021 and has since been replaced with the new building. Hundreds of sheds were damaged, many businesses were forced to relocate, and large losses were incurred.
The project was funded by the World Bank’s Urban Development Grant (UDG) and was built under the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) as a component of the $100 million Ghana Secondary Cities Support Program (GSCSP).
The market complex boasts a range of modern facilities, including:
- Over 250 lockable stores.
- A clinic to provide healthcare services.
- A banking hall to facilitate financial transactions.
- A crèche to cater to the needs of traders with young children.
Commendations
A safer and more effective trade atmosphere is provided by the market’s creative design, which includes multi-story buildings placed thoughtfully throughout the complex.
The District Assemblies Common Fund Secretariat and its Administrator, Irene Naa Torshie Addo, were commended by President Akufo-Addo for their successful project execution. He emphasized the market’s significance in reviving Akim Oda’s economy and giving merchants a respectable setting in which to operate.
Under the GSCSP, 25 municipalities in Ghana are working on a number of projects, including the Akim Oda market project, with the goal of improving urban infrastructure and fostering economic development.
In addition to restoring livelihoods, the community now expects the new market to boost trade and investment in the region.
