BOLGATANGA JUBILEE DURBAR GROUNDS COMPLETED (PAGE 23)

WORK on the long awaited Jubilee durbar grounds in the Upper East Region, popularly referred to as the PLAZA, has been completed and handed over to the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Isaac Nsoh Amoah, announced this in a speech read on his behalf by the Presiding Member of the Assembly, Mr Joseph Amuyuure, when he presented a report on the assembly's performance at the region’s People's Assembly at Bolgatanga.
The project, which was constructed by a Kumasi-based construction firm, consists of the presidential stand, the media wing, the spectator stands, as well as a cafeteria. The grounds have been paved.
The assembly has, however, negotiated with the contractor to work on an additional stand, which the MCE explained, was not initially part of the project.
With the completion of the grounds, it is expected to host major outdoor events in the region.
In his report, Mr Nsoh Amoah stated that the rehabilitated Bolgatanga market, whose re-opening was fraught with several demonstrations from market women due to disagreement over allocation procedures, would soon be opened to allow businessmen and women to conduct their trading activities.
The assembly's effort to get the market opened a couple of months ago, proved futile as a result of demonstrations by a group of women over the procedures of allocation of stalls and stores.
According to the MCE, as a result of that, a competent and dispassionate committee was set up by the Regional Co-ordinating Council to undertake the allocation process.
He said so much work had now been done to ensure that the place was opened for business.
"The assembly has been able to provide 10 lockable gates to the markets. We have also provided security lights and the place has been cleared of all debris," he stated.
The MCE expressed the hope that all stakeholders would collaborate with the assembly to ensure that the facility built with huge sums of money, was put to good use.
Meanwhile, the assembly last year supported 868 farmers to undertake dry season farming to ensure adequate food supply after the floods.
According to the MCE, the farmers were given financial assistance and farm inputs to cultivate 150 hectares of tomatoes, three hectares of onions, six hectares of pepper, four hectares of okro and leafy vegetables and 30 hectares of rice.
He said for this year's major farming season, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) was collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to assist farmers with seeds for sowing and grain for food.
Those measures, he explained, were aimed at ensuring adequate food security for the people.