Kejetia Central Market Project Will Be Completed On Time—Collins Dauda Assures

Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, has assured that the ongoing redevelopment of Kejetia Central Market Project at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region would be completed on time.

He said he is impressed of the progress of work so far and that barring any unforeseen difficulty, the project will be completed on schedule.

“I am so impressed of progress of work, in October when we were here, there was nothing, from October to now it’s about three months, and if you look at the volume of work from October and today, you will come to a conclusion that, we are on time and this project would be concluded on time”, he said.

Mr. Dauda said this when he toured the $298 million dollar Kejetia Central Market phase 1 on Wednesday. He was accompanied to the site by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Johnny Osei Kofi, the major of Kumasi Mr. Kojo Bonsu and other top officials from the Local Government and Rural Development ministry.

The Kejetia Central Market Project being executed by Contracta Engenarta Limited of Brazil was commenced by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama in October last year and will take thirty month’s to complete.

It consists of the reconstruction of the lorry park, the creation of a modern bus terminal, construction of two market floors above the bus terminal and other ancillary facilities.

The project is expected to ease the perennial traffic jam, create better work place conditions for the surroundings and increase the trading volume and introduce formal practices of doing business.

The minister explained that all the materials required are readily available in Kumasi, pointing out that the rate of construction is impressive.

“The rate of construction is so impressive that it leaves me in no doubt that this Kejetia project will be completed in time”, he added.

He commended the contractor of leaving up to expectations and showing commitment to the project, adding that the project is so crucial to the socio-economic progress of Kumasi.

Carlos Gala, Project Manager of Contracta Engenarta Limited for his part, said the project is progressing ahead of time, expressing hope that all things being equal it would be completed on time.

Gala said however that the major challenge facing progress of work is the compensation issues which are being handled by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, saying however that everything is moving on smoothly.

He explained that the first phase of the Kejetia Central Market Project covers a total square of 150,000sqm and will consist of about 5,000 shops and other facilities, adding it would be completed by latest of 2017 or early 2018.

COLLINS DAUDA (MIDDLE) BEING TAKEN ROUND THE SITE

COLLINS DAUDA SPEAKING TO THE PRESS