The youth of Barekese in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District have warned the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mba Zakaria, and the District Assembly not to change the planned location of a promised 24‑hour market.

They said Barekese deserves the market after assurances from the Assembly, and cautioned leaders against moving the facility to Asuofua.

The youth explained that they had received information indicating the Assembly and the DCE were expected to cut the sod for a 24‑hour market at Asuofua on Tuesday, despite earlier indications that the facility would be constructed in Barekese.

They questioned the rationale behind the apparent silence from the Ashanti Regional Minister, regional NDC executives and the DCE after the matter had been the subject of a petition.

Speaking at a press conference, the leader of the Barekese Youth Association, Ernest Kwadwo Adusei, said they did not understand why the DCE still wanted to take the project to Asuofua.

The youth said they had been assured in December last year that the government intended to build the market in Barekese to boost business activity within the district.

Mr Adusei explained that traditional leaders had already allocated a suitable parcel of land for the project.

He expressed disappointment over reports that the market had been moved to Asuofua and warned that if the project is not brought to Barekese, the community will not allow the Assembly to use any land in the area as a refuse‑dump site.

"We've heard that, Tuesday they'll be doing the sod cutting on the 24 hour market at Asuofua and when we heard it it became worried to us, what is going, the leaders have come to check to see where to construct the market.

"And they've given assurance and provided the needed documents which you told us you'll meet us, after that we didn't hear from them. And now what we've heard is that Tuesday they'll do the sod cutting.

"This is what is worrying us and so we're asking that, they said they meet us and they did not, so did they know what they were doing that is why they said they meet and they did not?

"What we're saying is that, from Tuesday going if they will not bring the market to Barekese, all the villages around here have lands to collect garbage and the garbage they mostly dump it in Barekese are not supposed to be there," he explained.