The model includes restaurants, crèches, and clinics to cater for the health needs of traders in case of emergencies. The other services are banking and storage, as well as fire and security protection.
In his address during the sod cutting ceremony on Saturday (April 18, 2026) as part of a two-day tour of the Northern Region, President Mahama noted the intervention was in fulfillment of a major campaign promise prior to the 2024 general election.
He assured that each of the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies of Ghana will benefit from the facility.
“Everywhere we have our traditional markets, traders with farm produce and other wares gather once or twice a week, and people come from far and near to do business. We intend to build these markets to operate around the clock, thereby stimulating economic activity. This was a campaign promise, and we are committed to fulfilling it” he emphasized.
He added, “One of the important aspects of agriculture is marketing. If you farm and don’t have a market for your produce, it’s useless. There must always be e a linkage, and so the market is the interconnection between the food on our table and the farmer producing in the field. Bimbilla, being one of the major food baskets, deserves one of the biggest.”
Mr. Mahama further announced that the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will introduce value addition to prolong the shelf life of food crops, prevent gluts, and help farmers and traders recoup their investments.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Bimbila, Nyelinbolgu Naa Yakubu Andani for his part said that the 24-hour economy policy initiative offers great opportunity for the youth, farmers, and traders by creating jobs, stimulating enterprise, and improving livelihoods.
He added the traditional authorities remain fully committed to partnering with the government to ensure peace, stability, and development in the area, stressing “We shall continue to offer the support necessary to ensure that every project initiated here succeeds and endures for generations.
Healthcare
The traditional ruler however seized the opportunity to appeal for the upgrading of the Bimbila hospital, adding this will improve access to quality healthcare in the eastern corridor and also reduce the number of referrals to the regional capital, Tamale.
Nyelingolgu Naa Yakubu further observed that the nurse-to-patient ratio in the municipality remains a serious challenge undermining the delivery of healthcare, lamenting many health professionals posted to the area often seek transfers due to difficult conditions resulting in the shortage of healthcare personnel.
“We strongly believe that establishing a health training institution in Nanung would provide a lasting solution by producing skilled professionals who have a deeper commitment to serving their own people” he stated.
