Jacobu Divisional Council Protests Last-Minute Relocation of 24-Hour Market.

By Dominic Duut 

Traditional authorities in Jacobu, the capital of the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region, have strongly opposed the reported relocation of the government’s proposed 24-hour market project from Jacobu to Mile 9, describing the decision as unfair and unjustified.

According to the chiefs, Jacobu was initially selected as the site for the market due to its status as the district capital.

However, they claim they were informed only a few hours before the official sod-cutting ceremony that the project had been moved to Mile 9, a smaller community within the district.

Addressing the media, the Gyasehene of Jacobu, Nana Anim Kokor, expressed disappointment over what he described as the disregard for the concerns and interests of the traditional council and the people of Jacobu.

He questioned the rationale behind relocating such a major economic project to a community whose population, according to him, is less than 2,000 residents, while bypassing the district capital which serves as the commercial and administrative hub of the area.

Nana Anim Kokor argued that the decision could undermine the success of the project, warning that traders may be reluctant to abandon the district capital for a smaller community with limited economic activity.

He further stressed that the market risks becoming underutilized and failing to achieve its intended objective of boosting local commerce and supporting the government’s 24-hour economy agenda.

The traditional leader therefore called on the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to provide immediate answers regarding the circumstances surrounding the relocation of the project.

The chiefs insist that Jacobu remains the most suitable location for the market and are urging government authorities to reconsider the decision in the interest of the district’s economic development.

Credit:k Yeboah