body-container-line-1
19.06.2009 Research Findings

C`TTEE SUBMITS REPORT ON MAY 28 K`SI FIRE DISASTER… Redevelopment of Central Market begins in August

19.06.2009 LISTEN
By Sebastian R. Freiku Kumasi - Ghanaian Chronicle

THE SIX-man committee headed by Mr. Ebenezer Simpson, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, appointed by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Poku Manu, to investigate the fire which set the Kumasi Central Market ablaze on May 28, this year, has submitted its report.

It estimated the cost of damage to 239 stores and stalls, under the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) portion of the burnt area, at GH¢5,242,030.00.

The report could not capture the cost of damages to the 430 stalls along the railway line, which were rented out to the traders by the Ghana Railways Corporation (GRC), because the estimates were not made available to the committee.

The committee had established over the last two weeks that the cause of fire was traced to one Esi Konadu's store, No. G30, where she usually lights a candle to seal parazone powder in polythene bags, because there was no supply of electricity to the said store, owned by one Georgina Konadu.

It was also established that out of the 16 fire hydrants, six were sealed, while 10 had been obstructed by structures, making them difficult to access.

The Simpson Committee recommended that all persons, including Esi and Georgina Konadu, whose action or inactions led to the cause of the fire, should be arraigned before a court of law and prosecuted.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the KMA, Mr. Samuel Sarpong, yesterday disclosed at a Stakeholders' Forum that the KMA was negotiating with an investor to redevelop the entire Central Market to meet modern standards.

The KMA boss announced that the redevelopment of the market, over a period of 20 months, would take off in earnest in two months time, and that traders in the phased areas would be resettled temporarily at satellite markets at Asafo, Kwadaso and Patasi Estates, as an interim measure.

He indicated that arrangements had been made for legal occupants of the market to sign formal agreements, as an assurance to allay the fear of traders that the shops would be reallocated to them, when it is rebuilt by the KMA.

According to him, the KMA had decided to adhere to a plan to serve victims of the recent fire outbreak first, for which names of all legal traders whose wares were ravaged by fire have been documented.

He also gave the assurance that a committee, on which the traders would be represented, would be put in place to facilitate the allocation process, on completion of the project.

Meanwhile, Mr. Appiah, Head of the Estate Department of the KMA, in giving the breakdown of the interim measure, confirmed that 60 traders would be relocated to the Asafo Market, where 11 of the displaced traders had already reported for allocation of stores.

According to the KMA official, 140 affected traders would be located at the Patase Estate Market, while the Kwadaso Estates market also absorbs 292 traders.

He said the arrangement was to allow the KMA to plan a proper resettlement package and reconstruction of the market, while at the same time mitigate the hardships of the traders half way.

body-container-line