President Mahama Visits Takoradi Market Circle, Commits to Completing Abandoned Project

During his ‘Thank You Tour,’ President John Mahama took a detour to the Takoradi Market Circle. There he reassured the local traders and market women that the long-delayed project will be completed. During the tour of the site, the President was briefed by the contractor on the status of the project, which has been stalled for some time.

After seeing the site, President Mahama announced that he would meet with the finance minister and the contractor this Friday to discuss how to secure funding for the project's completion.

Before the general elections on December 7, 2024, the current Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, slammed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for failing to complete the Takoradi Market Circle redevelopment after four years. She also pointed out that the project was later abandoned, even though former President Nana Akufo-Addo had done a sod-cutting ceremony while it was still ongoing. In her speech, she urged women traders to stop voting for the NPP and instead support the NDC, saying the NDC has a history of building modern markets for traders.

She stated “If it is not for development, then voting in an election wouldn’t have been necessary… When did they start the market circle redevelopment? When are they completing it? You don’t know and you continue to vote for them? The government who doesn’t know when it will complete the Market Circle? That is why Takoradi has to change their vote for development. They deceive you with sod-cutting of projects prior to elections,”

What Will the Market Feature?
The revamped Market Circle will consist of 2,408 retail stores, 33 dining establishments, and bulk breaking zones. It will also include a visitors’ parking area, office spaces, a police and fire station, a post office, a clinic, administrative offices, a daycare facility, and designated spaces for banks and other financial institutions. Additionally, the market will have a waste sorting dock, staff changing rooms, and upgrades to social infrastructure, including restrooms, sanitation facilities, and health stations. Furthermore, an enhanced drainage system will be integrated into the design to reduce flooding within the market and its surrounding area.

Before the NPP left power, it was reported that the market was 70% complete. Now, President Mahama has emphasized his commitment to finishing the project.