The Kumasi Central Market Redevelopment project, also known as Kejetia, is set to resume construction in October 2026. According to Kumasi Mayor, Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi, the government has negotiated with contractors and consultants to resume work on the second phase of the project. Funding has been secured for its completion. The mayor made this announcement during a stakeholder engagement meeting between traders and the Minister responsible for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in Kumasi.
The second phase of the market project has stalled for years, causing frustration among traders and stakeholders. The project aims to add modern trading and support facilities to the existing Kejetia complex. Once completed, it will house over 3,760 countershops, a transport terminal for 600 vehicles, and over 6,000 lockable shops. The contract for the 248-million-euro project was signed in December 2018, with an expected completion time of 48 months.
Consultant for the project, Tony Yeboah of Avangarde Design Services, reported that the project is currently at 68% overall completion, with 84% of procurement made, engineering works 99% completed, and 49% of construction works done. Only 171 million euros of the funds have been paid following the commencement of the project. The mayor assured stakeholders of the government's commitment to completing phases two and three of the market project.
The mayor emphasized that the project is a priority for the President and the government. He debunked speculations that distribution of stalls at the yet-to-be completed market project has commenced, warning traders not to pay any money to individuals or entities purporting to be taking the market premiums on behalf of the assembly. Traders and the people of Kumasi are eagerly awaiting the completion of the market project to ease congestion at the regional capital's major trading centre.
Since the commissioning of the market in 2018, the assembly has collected 89 million cedis from Phase One. The ideal plan for the continuation and sustenance of the project is to generate revenue from each of the phases to successively complete the three-phased project. The government is committed to seeing the project through to its completion.
The Kumasi Central Market Redevelopment project has been a long-standing initiative to modernize the market and provide better trading facilities for traders. The project has faced several setbacks, including funding issues and delays in construction. With the resumption of construction in October, stakeholders are hopeful that the project will be completed soon.
The completion of the Kumasi Central Market Redevelopment project is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and provide relief to traders who have been operating in difficult conditions. The project will also help to reduce congestion in the city and improve the overall trading experience for traders and customers alike.
Key points
- Construction on the second phase of the Kumasi Central Market Redevelopment project is set to resume in October 2026.
- The project aims to add modern trading and support facilities to the existing Kejetia complex, including over 3,760 countershops and 6,000 lockable shops.
- The government has secured funding for the completion of the project and is committed to its completion.
