President Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to join the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in Kumasi today to officially commission the redeveloped Kumasi Kejetia market.

The occasions will also be used to unveil the statue of Otumfuoo at the Kejetia roundabout. A sod will also be cut to commence the construction of the Kumasi Central market project as part of activates marking the 20th Anniversary of the Ashanti Monarch.

The opening of the market will allow 8,400 market women at the Kumasi Central Market and the occupants of the old Kejetia shops who have been validated and verified by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and will also pave way for the demolition and construction of the Central Market for the second phase of the project.

The project which costs $298 million and started in July 2015 was to be completed in January 2018 but was delayed due to court suits arising from litigation between private land developers and KMA over the pulling down of structures around the project.

Briefing the media after touring the facility, Minister of local government, Hajia Alima Bawa expressed joy at the project and called on the traders to take proper care of it and warned that any trader who goes contrary to the regulations and rules of the market will be evicted.

“I am very excited about the project, now the contractor has finished and handed over to the KMA. All that we are waiting for is the May 2 this year when it will be officially commissioned by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and His Excellency President Nana Akufo Addo,” she said.

The redeveloped Kejetia Market and the yet to be constructed Kumasi central market is expected to end the continues fire disasters in the market.

The Kejetia market will host police station, fire station, clinic and a daycare centre.