Kejetia Validation Exercise On Course

The validation exercise of traders by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) per an 11-member Validation Oversight Committee enters its second week. The exercise, which commenced on September 19, would validate traders grouped in 443 LOTS per a biometric register in batches.

Traders who occupied SHA and SHB areas were successfully validated last week with about 108 more traders to be thoroughly validated based on further required documents as their claims of ownership and tenancy were found to be questionable.

Nana Agyenim Boateng I, chairman of the Validation Committee said about 4,000 traders are expected to be validated monthly to ensure their resettlement when the Brazilian contractor hands over the Kejetia project to the KMA in October. Nana Boateng assured that the exercise would be executed in a transparent and honest manner as much as possible in honour of the Asantehene.

He cited the rampant fire outbreaks at the Kumasi Central market in 2010 after which the then Subin Law maker, Isaac Osei mooted the idea for the reconstruction of the market following which Otumfuo Osei Tutu II provided the needed collateral when Brazil, as member of BRICS, an association of five major emerging national economies; namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, agreed to undertake the Kejetia redevelopment project.

Other members of the Committee are Ohene Owusu Afriyie, Apagyahene, who together with the chairman are representatives of the Kumasi Traditional Council, Alexander Sarfo Kessie, Convener of KMA Trade and Industry Sub Committee, Ms. Juliana Nsiah, Estate Unit, KMA; Ms. Deborah Okrah, Central Market Manager; Ms. Theresa Osei Tutu, Consultant-Avangarde Design Services; Patrick Adu Gyamfi, Solicitor-KMA; Nana Yaa Foriwaa Market Queen, Kumasi Central Market, Mr. Elvis Owusu, rep of Kejetia Occupants Association, Nana Brasiamah, Regional GPRTU chairman and Ms. Yvonne Naboo, Deputy Director, KMA (Member/Secretary).

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of KMA, Mr. Godwin Okuma Nyame has announced that the exercise would be ongoing and that on Monday September 24, 2018 the Committee would take care of traders from the A, B and C Blocks while those from MLS and TSS Blocks would be attended to on Tuesday September 25. He said also on Asanteman Nkosuo programme on Fox Fm last Saturday that traders from KS, KSE, and GPRTU Blocks and those who occupied the Kinapharma, Franco and Caterers areas would be validated on Wednesday September 26.

Occupants of KC, KCB, NA and PCT areas would have their turn of the validation Thursday, according to Mr. Nyame who called for the cooperation of the traders for a smooth validation process.