Mr. Osei Assibey-Antwi, the Mayor of Kumasi, has embarked on an extensive tour of the Central Market, to brainstorm with the traders on the need for their relocation to pave way for work to commence on reconstruction of the facility.

Accompanied by the Relocation Committee, on the sidelines of the tour, he engaged executives of the Central Market Traders Association in a meeting, to discuss modalities and structure for the relocation exercise.

Leaders of trader associations, including dealers in clothes, beverages, hardware, jewelry, utensils, bags and shoes, plastics, fish, yam, as well as kente-weavers participated in the meeting.

“We want to ensure that as much as possible, the exercise would be more inclusive and participatory,” he told the traders, while addressing them at the Central Market, Kumasi.

Currently, the Committee had designated the Nana Afia Kobi and Race Course satellite markets as places for the resettlement of the traders who do not have lockable stores at the new Kejetia market, and would be affected by the project.

It constitutes the second phase of the Kejetia/Central Market Redevelopment Project, and being financed by the Deutsche Bank of Germany, with export credit guarantee from the United Kingdom (UK) Export Finance.

The first phase of the multi-million dollar Project, executed by Messrs. Contracta Engeharia LTDa, a Brazilian firm, comprises 8, 420 leasable commercial spaces – 6, 490 lockable stores, 1, 420 counter stores and 60 food courts.

Other facilities include public transport terminal, banking facilities, police and fire stations, clinic, prayer room, fuel and gas storage tanks, crèche, amongst others.

Mr. Assibey-Antwi was emphatic that: “Stores meant for occupants at the newly-constructed Kejetia market are not transferable, neither could they be used as collateral for any reason.”

He said the various identifiable leaders of the respective trader associations were being involved to foster transparency and accountability in the relocation processes.

Ms. Deborah Okrah, Manager in-charge of the Central Market, appealed to the traders to exercise restraint as the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and related bodies were bent on ensuring that the traders were assisted to relocate to the satellite markets successfully.

Ms. Mary Nkrumah, Representing the Traders’ Association, commended the Mayor for demonstrating commitment to overseeing a more transparent relocation exercise.

She advised leaders of the respective trader associations to strive to engage their members actively in the entire exercise to ensure its success.