The government of Ghana announced recently it was redesignating its 24-Hour Economy Markets initiative as District Economy Markets, to provide a model market in each of the country’s 261 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.
The programme has been divided into two phases, with the first covering market stores, sheds and essential commercial spaces, while the second will provide complementary facilities, including police and fire stations.
The markets could help districts expand production and create more value from locally produced goods, giving communities opportunities to process, package and distribute their products locally rather than relying solely on the sale of raw produce.
The markets could help local producers move beyond selling raw commodities by creating opportunities for processing, packaging and storage within their districts. This would allow farmers and small businesses to supply higher-value products, reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs and retain a greater share of the income generated from local production.
Such an approach would allow districts to move beyond selling raw produce towards retaining more value from production. It could also create opportunities for young people and small businesses to establish processing enterprises, transport services, packaging operations and other supporting activities.
President John Dramani Mahama has previously highlighted the relationship between agricultural production and access to markets, describing marketing as an essential part of agriculture. Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the Bimbilla model market in April, he said: “If you farm and don’t have a market for your produce, it’s useless.” He also indicated that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research would introduce value-addition approaches to extend the shelf life of food crops and help prevent market gluts.
For the markets to drive district-level economic growth, they must support local production, processing and value addition alongside trade.
Limited storage, poor roads and high transportation costs often leave farmers struggling to get their produce to market before it spoils. Providing storage facilities, cold rooms and better transport links at the district markets could help reduce these losses and give farmers more time to find buyers for their produce.
District assemblies will need to tailor the markets to the economic activities in their areas. Working with farmers, traders and local businesses, they can identify the products with the greatest potential and provide the facilities needed to increase production, support processing and expand trade within their districts.
A maize-producing district, for example, may require aggregation facilities and space for small-scale processors, while a fishing community may place greater emphasis on cold storage, hygienic handling and fish processing. Linking these investments to local production could help markets serve as commercial hubs for entire value chains rather than simply places where traders exchange goods.
Financing and implementation will be equally important. The government has indicated that funding for the first phase is available, while the second phase is expected to rely on future allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund. The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has also set a target of completing all the projects by 2028.
The markets will also require proper management and regular maintenance to remain useful to local businesses. District assemblies will need to help businesses access affordable financing and attract private investors to establish processing, storage and distribution facilities that support local production.
The District Economy Markets could help farmers reach more buyers, encourage businesses to process goods locally and create jobs within their communities. This would allow districts to earn more from their existing productive activities and strengthen their local economies.
