Government Renames 24-Hour Economy Markets as District Economy Markets
Government targets completion of model markets across all 261 assemblies by 2028.
- 24-hour economy markets renamed District Economy Markets.
- Government targets all 261 assemblies by 2028.
- Projects to be delivered in two phases.
The government has renamed its “24-hour economy markets” programme as District Economy Markets, with a target of completing projects across all 261 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies by 2028.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, said the rebranding was intended to distinguish the market initiative from the government’s broader 24-hour economy policy.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, October 5, 2026, Mr Ayariga explained that referring to the projects as “24-hour economy markets” had created the impression that the government’s flagship 24-hour economy programme was primarily focused on markets.
“You notice I didn’t say 24-hour economy markets,” he said, adding that the programme had now been redesignated as District Economy Markets.
One Model Market in Every District
According to Mr Ayariga, the initiative is aimed at providing a model market in each district to improve commercial infrastructure and support economic activity at the local level.
He said projects under the programme were currently at different stages of construction and implementation across the country.
The minister disclosed that the government had also re-scoped the programme into two phases as part of efforts to accelerate implementation and establish a more structured financing arrangement.
The first phase will focus on constructing market stores, sheds and other essential commercial facilities.
The second phase will provide supporting infrastructure, including police and fire stations, to complement the markets.
Targeting Completion by 2028
Mr Ayariga said the decision to divide the programme into two phases was aimed at speeding up delivery while ensuring that the necessary financing arrangements were in place to achieve full completion by 2028.
“We re-scoped it into two phases to enable a more speedy delivery of the market and a more structured financing to achieve 100% completion by 2028,” he said.
He added that the second phase would subsequently be financed through future allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund.
The government says the District Economy Markets programme is expected to provide modern commercial facilities across the country while creating an enabling environment for increased economic activity within districts.
