8,500 Traders to relocate from Kumasi Central Market

About 8,500 traders are to be relocated from the Central Market in Kumasi to enable Contracta-UK Construction Limited, the contractor, to commence work on the second phase of the Kejetia Redevelopment Project.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has, accordingly prepared the Race Course and Afia Kobi (Abinkyi) Market for the resettlement of the traders.

KMA sources have indicated that 3,500 shop owners and 4,000 second hand clothes dealers at the Central Market would be resettled at the Afia Kobi Market, while 1,000 fish sellers are to be resettled at the Race Course.

Other trade groups would also be settled at the Race Course, which has enough space to absorb more traders yet to be relocated.

The intended relocation exercise follows a road map drawn by the KMA, in conjunction with the Regional Security Council, after a series of meetings with the leadership of the trader groupings, to ensure the smooth resettlement of their members and enable Messrs. Contracta from the United Kingdom to commence work on the project as soon as practicable, in order not to incur extra cost on the loan facility.

The contractor has so far done 40% of preparatory works at the site, and would move into full construction when the space is made available.

Among the preparations by the KMA to resettle the traders include the provision of police protection from the available police post, urinals and reliable lightening system, as well as a transport terminal at the Race Course.

The Mayor of Kumasi has assured the traders that there are enough spaces at the Race Course to absorb all of them.

The redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market, at €248 million, is being financed by the

Deutsche Bank of Germany, with export credit guarantee from the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF).

In May 2019, the President cut the sod for the project to be commenced, which was to be completed within 48-months.

The second phase of the project is expected to house 6,500 leasable commercial spaces, 5,400closed stores; 800 kiosks, 50 restaurants, and 210 fishmonger and butcher stores, and 40 livestock stores among others, as well as provide 900 direct jobs and 2,500 indirect jobs to improve the lot of residents of the Metropolis.

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