The government has renamed its “24-hour economy markets” programme as District Economy Markets, with a target to complete projects in all 261 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies by 2028.
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, explained that the change was meant to distinguish the market programme from the government’s broader 24-hour economy policy.
According to him, describing the projects as “24-hour economy markets” had created the impression that markets were the main focus of the government’s flagship 24-hour economy initiative.
“You notice I didn’t say 24-hour economy markets. The use of the 24-hour economy markets has tended to create the impression that the whole thing about the government’s flagship programme of 24-hour economy is about markets,” he said.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, October 5, 2026, Mr Ayariga said the programme had been redesignated as District Economy Markets to provide a model market in every district.
He said the projects were currently at different stages of construction and implementation across the country.
The minister added that the government had also re-scoped the programme into two phases to speed up construction and create a more structured financing arrangement.
The first phase will focus on market stores, sheds and other essential commercial facilities, while the second phase will include supporting infrastructure such as police and fire stations.
“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,” Mr Ayariga said.
He explained that the second phase would subsequently be financed through future allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund.
The District Economy Markets programme is expected to provide modern commercial infrastructure across the country while supporting economic activity and livelihoods at the district level.
