The people of Essumeja in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region have received a major boost to their local economy following the commissioning of a newly constructed 38-unit ultramodern market complex, generously funded by Mrs. Mary Antwi, a distinguished daughter of the community.
The commissioning ceremony, which drew a large crowd of traditional leaders, government officials, traders, and residents, was jointly performed by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bekwai, Hon. Issaka Salia Salifu, and the Essumeja Traditional Council. The event marked a new chapter in Essumeja’s quest for improved trading infrastructure and sustainable economic growth.
The new market complex, built in honour of the late Opanin Kwame Ntim and Obaapanin Adwoa Fordjour, is expected to provide a more conducive environment for business activities and create job opportunities for the youth and women in the area. The facility, which includes modern lockable stores, was constructed to help decongest existing trading areas and offer traders a safe, clean, and secure marketplace for their daily operations.
In her address, the project financier, Mrs. Mary Antwi, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Essumeja Traditional Council, the Bekwai Municipal Assembly, and all stakeholders who supported the project’s completion. She explained that her motivation stemmed from a strong desire to contribute meaningfully to the development of her hometown and to honour her late parents for their dedication to community growth and unity.
Mrs. Antwi emphasized that the new market was not merely a building but an investment in the future of Essumeja’s economy. She encouraged traders to maintain the facility properly and use it to grow their businesses, create jobs, and improve their living conditions. She also urged residents to continue supporting community development initiatives that promote self-reliance and social progress.
Delivering his keynote address, Hon. Issaka Salia Salifu, the MCE for Bekwai, praised Mrs. Antwi for her outstanding commitment to community development and described her gesture as a shining example of how private citizens can partner with government to enhance local economic growth. He noted that the market’s construction aligns perfectly with the government’s 24-hour economy initiative being championed by President John Dramani Mahama, which seeks to create more employment opportunities and expand productive activities around the clock.
According to the MCE, the Bekwai Municipal Assembly has prioritized infrastructural development, particularly in markets, roads, and sanitation, to support the 24-hour economy agenda. He assured the people of Essumeja that the Assembly would continue to collaborate with traditional leaders and local investors to promote development projects that improve living standards and create sustainable livelihoods.
Hon. Salifu further called on traders to make good use of the new market, adhere to proper sanitation practices, and protect the facility from deterioration. He also appealed to other natives of Bekwai and its surrounding communities to emulate Mrs. Antwi’s example by investing in similar projects that would accelerate local development.
The Essumeja Traditional Council, represented by the chiefs and elders of the area, expressed profound gratitude to Mrs. Antwi for her generosity and patriotism. They described the new market as a transformative project that would not only modernize local trading but also attract more visitors and business opportunities to Essumeja.
The colourful event was marked by traditional drumming, cultural displays, and the performance of customary rites to bless the new facility. Excited residents and traders expressed joy over the commissioning, noting that the market would significantly improve their livelihoods and promote economic activities in the town.
With the commissioning of the 38-unit market complex, Essumeja now stands poised for a new era of commercial vibrancy — a testament to how visionary leadership, traditional cooperation, and individual philanthropy can come together to transform communities in the Bekwai Municipality.
