The Savannah Regional Minister, Hon. Salisu Be-Awuribe, on Thursday, April 2, 2026, successfully signed contracts for the construction of modern 24-hour economy markets across all seven Municipal and District Assemblies in the region.
The beneficiary areas include Damongo in the West Gonja Municipality, which serves as the regional capital, Bole in the Bole District, Buipe in the Central Gonja District, Salaga in the East Gonja Municipality, Kpalbe in the North East Gonja District, Daboya in the North Gonja District, and Sawla in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District.
The historic event brought together all Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), contractors, traditional authorities, and key opinion leaders from across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Be-Awuribe described the occasion as a significant milestone in the development of the Savannah Region.
“Today is historic. All my MMDCEs have come to witness the signing of model markets, otherwise known as the 24-hour markets,” he stated.
He explained that the markets have been categorized into four distinct classes—Category 1, 2, 3, and 4—based on strategic importance and economic potential. According to him, the topmost category has been allocated to Damongo, Bole, and Buipe.
He justified the selection, noting that Damongo’s status as the regional capital and its strategic importance earned it the top-tier design. Bole, he added, is a major commercial hub with international market appeal, attracting traders from neighboring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire. Buipe, on the other hand, stands out as a key commercial center in the region, boasting one of the largest and longest-running market activities in northern Ghana, spanning from Saturday to Tuesday.
The remaining districts—Salaga, Kpalbe, Daboya, and Sawla—have also been strategically assigned market categories tailored to maximize their economic potential.
Hon. Be-Awuribe urged contractors to strictly adhere to project timelines and deliver high-quality work, emphasizing that the markets are legacy projects aimed at transforming the local economy.
“We will not hesitate to terminate any contract if standards are not met,” he cautioned, while assuring contractors of timely payments upon certification of completed work.
He further highlighted that, as the home region of the President, Savannah has no excuse to underperform, stressing that adequate resources have been made available to ensure the successful execution of the projects.
On the issue of compensation, the Minister clarified that there would be no financial compensation for structures affected by the project. However, he indicated that traditional leaders have pledged to make land available to support individuals whose properties may be impacted.
He also disclosed that the Mankarigu market project remains open for bidding, as no contractor has yet submitted a proposal.
The 24-hour market initiative is expected to significantly boost trade, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth across the Savannah Region.
