MPs endorse Kejetia Market construction… But want KMA to sign MOU with traders
Members of Parliament in the Ashanti Region have urged the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with traders of the Kejetia Central Market to guarantee them a place after the re-construction of the three-phased market.
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The MPs,mainly made up of members of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), gave a massive endorsement to the project which they said would open up the city to businesses and beautify Kumasi in the process.
But MP for the Subin Constituency, Isaac Osei, who led the call at a stakeholders forum in Kumasi, which attracted MPs from both political divides, traders, security chiefs, traditional rulers and planners, said the only way the affected traders would be confident that they would be the first beneficiaries of the stores was when an MOU was signed.
He urged the traders to undertake the agreement in the presence of their lawyers to ensure that no one was short-changed after the project.
The MPs including, MP for Manhyia South, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, MP for Nhyiaeso, Dr Richard Anane, MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, MP for Manhyia North, Colins Owusu Amankwah, one-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the KMA, Patricia Appiagyei and immediate past General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie also known as Sir John, all took turns to urge the traders to buy into the new project.
Also in attendance was the Deputy Local Government Minister and MP for Nkoranza South, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, who assured the traders of their security.
The opposition MPs played crucial roles in approving a $298-million Brazilian loan for the reconstruction of the market which had become prone to fire outbreaks in recent times.
The traders are being relocated to the Adehyieman Gardens, Royal Market and the Race Course to enable the first phase of the project to take off at the Kejetia bus terminal. Affected drivers are to be relocated to the Sofoline interchange and Abinkyi lorry terminals.
President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to perform the sod-cutting ceremony for the project to take off on March 31, this year.
A Brazilian construction firm, Contracta, is already in Kumasi to begin preparatory works for the project to begin.
The preliminary work, which forms part of the first phase expected to cost $198 million include the geo-mapping of the Kejetia lorry terminal and the proper valuation of the land by officials from the Lands Department.
The first phase, which is expected to provide 10,000 stalls, is to last between 24 and 30 months.
More than 43,000 stalls are expected to be constructed for the traders after the completion of the project within the next two years.
Biometric registration
Despite a biometric registration of all shop and stalls owners by the KMA, the MPs want the assembly to rope in those in rented stalls and other auxiliaries, including those who sell by the road side.
The KMA has had preliminary meetings with market executive members to agree on compensation packages.
The MPs said they would always remain united and support any project that would be brought to the region, especially Kumasi.