Ho-Hliha to get new market

Togbe Kwasi Afele II, Chief of Ho-Hliha, has appealed to the people of Ho to focus on completing the 2.4 - billion cedi Ho Central market to enhance business in the regional capital.

He said argument over which government should be credited with its initiation and which government secured funds for it should stop.

Togbe Afele said this when a questioner at a public forum during the sod-cutting ceremony sought clarification over claims that the previous government secured funds for the project before leaving office.

The question and attempts at responding to it by Mr Mawutor Goh, the Ho District Chief Executive, nearly marred the ceremony as the function degenerated into a noisy debate.

''Such questions and arguments divert attention from the substantive issue of development and create acrimony and division among the people.''

Madam Mansa Dagbe, President of the Volta Region Market Women's Association, said the project had brought relief to the market women.

Addressing the market women earlier, Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, said the government was committed to equitable distribution of the benefits of the country's resources devoid of ethnic, political or religious considerations.

''The government's only motivation is to make positive impression on all Ghanaians.''

The main features of the market include storey buildings, parking lot, a bank, Police Station, Fire Station, lodging place for market women from elsewhere and pre-school facilities.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa said the government and World Bank were financing the project at an initial cost of 2 .4 billion cedis.

He said the present phase of the project when completed in May would have 10 blocks of 20 unit stalls to accommodate 200 market women, four open sheds for 400 people and paved walkways for open air trading.