Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has issued a stern warning to TEK Constructions, the contractor responsible for the Amenfi Central 24-hour economy market project in Ghana. During an inspection of the project site, Nelson expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of construction, stating that the government would not hesitate to terminate the contract if the contractor failed to demonstrate satisfactory progress. The project, which began in August, is currently 15 per cent complete and has an 18-month completion period.
The Regional Minister's warning follows concerns over the level of progress made since the contractor moved to the site. Traditional leaders, who accompanied Nelson during the inspection, expressed concern about the slow pace of construction. Nelson emphasized that the project was too important to the people of Amenfi Central to be allowed to suffer undue delays. He directed the contractor's representatives to take immediate measures to accelerate construction.
Nelson cited the Mpohor 24-hour market project as an example of the government's willingness to sanction contractors who failed to deliver. The contract for the Mpohor project was terminated over poor performance, and arrangements are underway to re-award the project to another contractor. The minister stressed that the contractor's investment in preliminary works, including the excavation of the foundation, would not protect it from termination if performance remained below expectations.
The Amenfi Central project is significant to residents, as the proposed market is expected to be the biggest in the district. Nelson emphasized that the government would closely monitor developments at the site to determine whether the contractor was making the necessary progress. He added that the presence of traditional leaders during the inspection demonstrated their concern about the project and their determination to see it completed for the benefit of the community.
The Project Engineer of TEK Constructions, Ing. Emmanuel, assured Nelson that the company remained committed to completing the project within the stipulated timeframe. Emmanuel stated that the company was mobilizing additional resources and accelerating construction activities to make up for lost time. He acknowledged that rainfall had disrupted some construction activities but expressed confidence that the company could manage the setbacks and maintain the pace required to meet the deadline.
The inspection also highlighted broader implementation challenges confronting the 24-hour market initiative across the Western Region. Nelson disclosed that the rollout had encountered difficulties in some of the region's 14 metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies. In Ahanta West and Tarkwa-Nsuaem, the main obstacle has been the acquisition of suitable land without litigation or ownership disputes.
The Amenfi Central project is expected to remain under close government monitoring as the authorities assess whether TEK Constructions can improve performance and deliver the market within the agreed 18-month period. The outcome will be significant for traders and residents who are counting on the facility to provide a major trading centre and support economic activity in the district.
Key points
- The Western Regional Minister has warned TEK Constructions to accelerate work on the Amenfi Central 24-hour market project or risk termination.
- The project is currently 15 per cent complete and has an 18-month completion period.
- The contractor's performance will be closely monitored by the government to ensure timely completion.
