As part of pragmatic plans by the Kumasi metropolitan Assembly to ensure that the Central market and the Kejetia Lorry Park are redeveloped, the KMA has pledged to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with shop owners and transporter operators to guarantee them of places after the re-construction is completed.
The idea is to further assure the affected traders and transporter owners that they will not be short-changed, rather they would be first hand beneficiaries after the redevelopment of the Central Business District, CBD.
Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly was responding to questions and suggestion by stakeholders at a special session in Kumasi.
The rear meeting brought together, Members of Parliament from Kumasi. They included MP for Nyhiaso, Dr, Richard Annane, MP for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu Amankwaah, MP for Manhyia South, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, MP for Old-Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, MP for Subin, Isaac Osei and MP for Asokwa and former Mayor of the KMA, Madam Patricia Apiagyie.
Also present were the Deputy Minister for Local Government and MP for Nkoranza South, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Ashanti Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP, Nathan Kofi Boakye, Commander of the Northern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier, J.A Boampong as well as former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie.
Other stakeholders, included, traditional rulers, traders, transport operators, media practioners and shop owners among others.
The Mayor indicated that it was prudent for the KMA to reason with the demands by the stakeholders for an MOU, this is because, “It was in the scheme of things of the Assembly to do so before the relocation, therefore the calls were in tandem with the plans”.
“This we are certain is about the surest way to guarantee you that you will be first hand beneficiaries of this enviable modern state of the art edifice of a market and lorry park to be reconstructed for the city of Kumasi” he added.
“This is a must-do project but we need to respect opinions of all stakeholders in fashioning out a common ground in carrying it out, to the extent that we don’t hurt anybody in the process” He said.
“Speaker after speaker has made cogent suggestions including even signing the MOU in front of your respective lawyers, that is also in line, and the KMA will not hesitate in ensuring that, that is done if that will bring about some guarantee to make way for the redevelopment to take place”. He reassured.
According to Hon. Bonsu, the Brazilian construction firm, Contracta, is already on the ground working assiduously towards a successful takeoff of the project.
“The initial works of the first phase at the cost of $198 million is far advanced. This includes, geo-mapping and valuation of the land by the Lands Department for the construction of more than ten thousand stalls, Overall 43 thousand stalls will be constructed within two years” He explained.
The MPs emphasized that, when it comes to the development of the Ashanti Region, there is no partisan politics.
They augured that, they were instrumental in pushing for the approval of the redevelopment of the CBD, and therefore will ensure that the three-phased project at the cost of $298 million is completed to help beautify the city.
The MPs pleaded with the traders and transport owners, to collaborate and cooperate with the KMA to ensure that the process of relocation is done without difficulties, since they will guarantee their return to the Central Market and Kejetia lorry park respectively without hitches.
The traders and transports owners, led by their leaders took turns to pledged their unflinching support to the project, challenging the KMA not to renege on its avowed promise of returning all of them to their respective places after the project is completed.