Gov’t announces imminent resumption of Kejetia Market Phase Two

The government has secured approval to restart work on Phase Two of the Kumasi Central Market, popularly known as the Kejetia Market, following years  suspension of the project.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, said negotiations with the contractor had been completed, paving the way for work to resume.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Mr Ayariga disclosed that the project is currently about 60 percent complete but has stalled for the past two years.

He said the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, had approved the necessary arrangements to enable the contractor to return to site and continue work on Phase Two.

“Phase Two is about 60 percent complete, and it has stalled for the past two years. We’ve done some negotiations with the contractor, and the Minister for Finance has given us approval to commence work on Phase Two,” he said.

Mr Ayariga assured residents of Kumasi and the Ashanti Region that the contractor would return to site in a matter of days or weeks.

He explained that the government was also taking steps to commence Phase Three of the market project, which is expected to further increase the number of trading spaces available to traders in the region.

According to him, approval has been given to use proceeds from Phases One and Two to support the commencement of Phase Three.

The Minister said the contractor would present a plan for Phase Three, while further discussions would be held on the project’s pricing and financing arrangements.

He added that he would continue engagements with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on the implementation of Phase Three.

Mr Ayariga said the government’s efforts were aimed at ensuring that the stalled market project is completed and provides additional trading spaces for women and men in Kumasi and the wider Ashanti Region.