The Shama District Assembly in the Western Region has commenced construction of its proposed 24-hour economy market, with the DCE assuring residents of continued investment in education, healthcare, sanitation, and youth development.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Shama, Hon. Paul Otis Dentu, has announced that construction of the district’s 24-hour economy market has begun following the resolution of challenges surrounding land acquisition and the relocation of traders.
He said the contractor had moved to the site and commenced work after the Assembly secured an alternative parcel of land, engaged market women and made financial provisions for the project.
Speaking to members of the Parliamentary Press Corps after he appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Dentu said the Assembly was making progress in key development areas despite challenges confronting the implementation of some government initiatives.
The engagement formed part of Parliament’s public hearings on the 2025 Annual Statements of Audit Committees, scheduled for October 5 to 20, 2026.
24-Hour Economy Market Construction Begins Mr Dentu explained that the project had initially encountered delays after the owners of the first parcel of land identified for the relocation of traders withdrew their willingness to release it.
He said the Assembly subsequently secured another site and worked with the traders to pave the way for construction.
“What we are having is an existing market. The market women are not the problem, but the land acquisition for the relocation was the issue,” he explained.
He added that the Assembly had resolved the difficulty and was now ready to move forward with the project.
“As we speak, the traders have accepted, we have worked on the land and then we are moving. So the contractor is there; he started working on the site somewhere last week,” he said.
The DCE further disclosed that the Assembly had been setting aside its allocation from the Common Fund earmarked for the 24-hour economy market to ensure that funds were available to support construction.
“Looking at the funds that we have, we always save that portion of the Common Fund which is supposed to be for the 24-hour economy market, and so it is there. Once the man is there and he starts, we are good to go,” he assured.
The market is expected to provide a more organised trading environment and strengthen commercial activities in the district under the government’s 24-hour economy initiative.
Three Schools Constructed to Improve Education On education, Mr Dentu said the Assembly had constructed three school facilities in different communities as part of efforts to expand access to education and improve learning conditions.
“We’ve been able to put up three different schools. One being KG at Bosomdo Krobo, one junior high school commissioned at Anlo Beach, and then we have a six-unit primary school at Anto with an eight-seater toilet facility also commissioned,” he stated.
He added that a kindergarten block had also been provided at Shama with support from the Member of Parliament’s Common Fund and subsequently handed over.
According to the DCE, the projects demonstrate the Assembly’s commitment to addressing educational infrastructure needs and creating a better learning environment for children across the district.
Shama Polyclinic Receives Surgical Theatre In the health sector, Mr Dentu announced that a surgical theatre had been provided for the maternity block of the Shama Polyclinic and commissioned.
“You come to Shama Polyclinic and we’ve been able to provide them with a surgical theatre for the maternity block that is also commissioned,” he said.
The facility is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly maternal healthcare services, and improve the polyclinic’s capacity to provide essential medical care to residents.
Nine-Acre Waste Disposal Site Secured The DCE also highlighted the Assembly’s efforts to address sanitation challenges, disclosing that it had acquired a nine-acre parcel of land to serve as the district’s final waste disposal site.
“When we took over the district, it didn’t even have a final disposal site, and then we’ve been able to purchase one to be used for fifty years. I think it’s nine acres,” he disclosed.
He said the acquisition would provide a long-term solution to waste disposal challenges and improve the management of solid waste in the district.
Assembly Exceeds 2025 Revenue Target On revenue mobilisation, Mr Dentu revealed that the Assembly exceeded its internally generated fund (IGF) target for 2025, raising GH¢8.4 million against a target of GH¢8 million.
For 2026, the Assembly has set a revenue target of GH¢10 million and had generated approximately GH¢6.4 million at the time of the interview.
“For last year, we targeted eight million, but we were able to get eight point four million. This year, our target in terms of IGF is ten million. As we speak, we’ve realised about six point four million, remaining about three point something. We are hopeful to get everything by the close of this year,” he said.
He identified property rates, business operating permits and development permits as some of the Assembly’s major revenue sources.
However, he acknowledged that the relocation of traders operating along roadsides and within road reservations had affected revenue collection.
“We have been impacted because traders along the right of way have been moved from the roadside, and you know when they move like that and they are in trouble, you cannot chase them like that. But we are doing our best,” he said.
On revenue collection at landing beaches, Mr Dentu clarified that the Assembly collects tolls from fishmongers in the same manner as it does from traders in markets, with charges limited to the applicable tolls.
Youth Skills Training and Career Guidance Prioritised The DCE said youth development remained a priority for his administration, with the Assembly focusing on career orientation and skills training to prepare young people for employment opportunities.
He explained that the Assembly regularly engages young people, provides career guidance and encourages them to acquire practical skills aligned with their interests and the demands of the job market.
“We are doing something like orientation on career development. We try to give orientation, we bring people on board, sit them down for them to go into skills training and all that. We’ve been meeting with them,” he said.
Mr Dentu also disclosed that the Assembly was encouraging young people to participate in local governance by attending General Assembly meetings and contributing ideas to development initiatives.
“It will surprise you that even the projects that we do, sometimes we call them, they join the General Assembly meeting, they make proposals,” he stated.
He said the initiative was intended to give young people a voice in decision-making while equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to benefit from emerging employment opportunities.
Mr Dentu expressed confidence that the Assembly’s investments in infrastructure, sanitation, healthcare, education and youth development, coupled with stronger revenue mobilisation, would contribute to improved living conditions and sustainable development in the Shama District.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
