The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has said some markets under reconstruction in parts of the Kumasi metropolis will not be opened until all registered traders at those markets have been allocated shops.
Sector Minister Collins Dauda, who inspected ongoing works at the Atonsu, Asawase, and Tafo satellite markets in the Ashanti Region, observed that the number of registered traders exceeded the number of shops put up so far.
Mr Dauda said his Ministry would engage the contractors to build additional shops to satisfy all registered traders.
“The number of lockable shops that we have been able to construct was far less than the number of registered traders at the time we started the construction. The difference between what is constructed and what is supposed to be provided is huge. Government will not commission the markets when traders cannot find space or cannot find stores to undertake their trading. We will wait until every registered trader has a store before the commissioning is done. We spoke with the contractors who have agreed to partner KMA to construct additional stores on PPP (public-private partnership) basis and they have given indication that if they are asked to start next month, they can use a maximum of six months to add on to the number of stores required to meet the registered number,” he told journalists.
The Minister also indicated that a police post and a crèche would be incorporated in the construction of new markets across the country.
“... In addition, it has been observed that we don’t have a crèche in the market and we want to encourage the incorporation of crèches in all market places in Ghana. Also, any market constructed without a police post, we will try to accommodate a police post. All these are being considered to be constructed or to be incorporated in Tafo, Asawase, and Atonsu,” he said.
The reconstructed markets are expected to ease congestion and also provide favourable trading space.
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