July 13, 2021
By Aruna Kamara (Bo)
The Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Rev. Dr Jonathan Titus-Williams, said the construction of an Ultra-Modern Regional Market has been identified as one key drivers of local socio-economic development with a strong private sector component as this is one of the cardinal objectives in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2019 – 1923.
He made this statement during an engagement with stakeholders in Bo District for the construction of an Ultra-Modern Regional Market in Bo, the southern Regional Head Quarters.
The engagement took place at the Bo District Council Administrative Hall last week.
The Ultra-Modern Market, after construction, Titus said, will have the full complements of the prescriptions of the various stakeholders and will include among other things facilities for Law Enforcement Agencies, Commercial Motorcycle Riders, Drivers’ Union, Traders’ Organizations, Day Care Centre and proper WASH Facilities.
He continued that when completed, the facility will eradicate the proliferation of street trading in the Regional Headquarters District of Bo and will enhance a centralized trading/marketing system that will be environmentally conducive.
Speaking during the engagement, Resident Minister South, Hon. E. K. Alie, who also doubles as the Chairman of the occasion said, it is always good for somebody to do what he/she says and this is exactly what the President, Julius Maada Bio, was promising people in the South while he was campaigning, here today is a promised fulfilled.
“Today we are here on a consultative engagement for the construction of a Regional Market and to discuss on how we (southerners) want the Market and where we want it to be constructed.” Resident Minister said, told participants.
Deputy Minister of Works and Public Assets, Philip Tondoneh, said the Ministry of Works is very much instrumental in the designing of this Regional Market. Since the felt needs of the people are different in all the regions, he said, they have decided to consult people in each region on how they want their own Market. He said the Ministry of Works will be responsible for the Design and Bills of Quantity (BOQ), which he said will only depend on the outcome of the consultation as people in the South will have to determine their own structural design.
Speaking during the consultation, the Chairman, Bo District Council, Joseph Munda Bindi, said, the people of Bo District are very happy. These are the initiatives the people will like to hear, not only that, but Bo District will host the Regional Market itself.
He said, the people of Bo are not short of Land. He assured MoPED that Land will not be of any challenge in Bo.
Another big opportunity he highlighted is that of the free will given to them to do the design which he said before now was centrally tailored.
He promised strongly that in the design stage Bo District will not only sit together but will incorporate other districts in the South and that the two councils in Bo will provide the leadership required.
While appreciating the Government and by extension President Bio, Esther Pendema, Vice Chairperson for Traders Union in Bo, said she is over joyed for such an initiative as according to her, Traders will be the primary beneficiaries to the Market.
She appealed to authorities in Bo to locate the site for the market to be of an easy access for traders and drivers.