The Assembly Member of Chapuri Electoral Area and Chairman of the Hain Zonal Council, Hon. Joseph Viele, backed by traditional authorities and local stakeholders, has issued a formal call to action regarding the Hain Market Project, which has remained uncompleted for over twenty-six years.
In a comprehensive press statement delivered this afternoon at Hain, the Council characterised the prolonged abandonment of the project as a “governance failure” and a significant “development gap” that continues to stifle the economic potential of the entire region.
Originally launched in 2000 under the Jubilee Market Programme during the Kufuor administration, the project was designed to modernise infrastructure and bolster local revenue mobilisation. However, despite a partial intervention in 2024 through the World Bank-funded SOCO project, the market remains largely unfinished, with only two of the six planned market blocks nearing 95% completion.
The market’s strategic positioning in the heart of the Upper West Region has made it a vital hub for traders across Northern Ghana and neighbouring countries. Its reach extends to merchants from as far as Burkina Faso, Techiman, and the Savannah Region, underscoring its role as a regional and cross-border trade node.
Local traders have highlighted the dire conditions resulting from the lack of infrastructure; Amadu Salamatu, a trader who pays GH₵10 in tolls every market day, disclosed that the grounds become nearly impassable during the rainy season. “We are struggling here. When it rains, we suffer a lot. We can’t store sacks here, nor do we have a toilet or urinal,” she stated, pointing to the absence of basic sanitation and storage facilities.
“We love John Mahama, but we are suffering here in the market,” noted another trader, Zenabu, highlighting the diverse origins of the market’s patrons, who travel from Babile, Jirapa, Lawra, Wa, Tumu, Wasei, and Felmou.
Further complicating matters, a trader named Barikisu lamented the lack of space due to encroachment and severe congestion. She noted that market days are particularly difficult as residents from all neighbouring villages arrive to shop, with motorcycles parked haphazardly, further blocking the limited trading space.
The Council’s demands are supported by empirical data proving Hain’s status as the “economic engine” of the Jirapa Municipality. Verified records show that despite the lack of modern facilities, Hain remains the highest revenue-generating council in the municipality, consistently outperforming all other zones.
Between January and April 2025, the Hain Zonal Council alone contributed GH₵26,807, representing 60.97% of the total municipal revenue. In contrast, Sabuli Zonal Council contributed GH₵5,196 (11.82%), Ullo Zonal Council generated GH₵4,219 (9.60%), and the remaining zones combined for a total of GH₵7,750 (17.61%). These figures indicate that the market is a significant, yet under-supported, contributor to the Assembly’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
Beyond simple completion, the Council is advocating for the facility to be upgraded into a 24-Hour Economy Market. They argue that essential infrastructure—including lighting, security, and paved access—would serve as a “missing multiplier” to enable nighttime trading, reduce daytime congestion, enhance trader safety, and strengthen cross-border trade with Burkina Faso.
“Development that is perpetually delayed amounts, in effect, to development denied,” the Council stated, emphasising that their request is a matter of “development justice” and accountability rather than political interest.
The Council has formally petitioned the Municipal Chief Executive, the Member of Parliament, and the Ministers for Local Government and Education to mobilise the necessary resources and provide a transparent, time-bound roadmap for the project’s completion.
They maintain that rewarding the municipality’s most productive zone through proportionate reinvestment is a policy obligation essential for maintaining public trust in decentralised governance.
