Source: tntnewspapergh.com

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for the Nhyiaeso Constituency within the Kumasi Metropolis, Faustina Dery, popularly known as Obaapa Fausty, has called on the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to speed up process to complete the Santasi Market which is far behind the scheduled date of completion.

Faustina Dery Popularly known as Obaapa Fausty

According to her, it has come to her attention that the reconstruction project has not been completed as planned.

“The initial timeline of eight months has long passed. The market is in a state of limbo, causing inconvenience and hardship for the thousands of people who depend on it for their livelihood,” she added.

She admitted that the Mayor of KMA has acknowledged this issue and has promised to complete the reconstruction by May 2024.

It is, therefore, in the light of this that the Nhyiaeso NDC parliamentary candidate is calling on KMA to provide regular updates on the progress of the reconstruction and also address any concerns or questions from members of the affected community.

Faustina Dery made the appeal at a press conference held on Thursday,19th April 2024, to address issues concerning the demolition and reconstruction of the Kumasi Santasi Market.

The full text of her statement reads: “Today, I would like to address the ongoing issue concerning the demolition and reconstruction of the Kumasi Santasi Market. As you may be aware, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly initiated the demolition process in 2022, with the intention to reconstruct the market within a period of eight months.

“The primary objective of this action was to improve the overall infrastructure, safety, and trading conditions for the market vendors and customers.

“However, it has come to our attention that the reconstruction project has not been completed as planned. The initial timeline of eight months has long passed, and the market remains in a state of limbo, causing inconvenience and hardship for the thousands of people who depend on it for their livelihood.

“The Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has acknowledged this issue and has promised to complete the reconstruction by May 2024. We understand that unforeseen circumstances, such as supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, and other logistical challenges may have contributed to the delay.

“Nevertheless, we
urge the authorities to expedite the process and ensure that the market is restored to its full functionality as soon as possible.

“We call upon the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly to provide regular updates on the progress of the reconstruction, addressing any concerns or questions from the affected community.

“Transparency and open communication are essential in maintaining trust and understanding during such challenging times.

“It is crucial that the Kumasi Santasi Market is reconstructed with the utmost care and attention to detail, so that it can become a modern, efficient, and safe trading hub for the people of Kumasi. We expect the authorities to prioritise the well-being of the market’s users and to deliver on their promise of a timely completion.

“In conclusion, we would like to remind the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly of its responsibility to the citizens who rely on the Santasi Market for their daily needs. We urge the authorities to accelerate the reconstruction process and to ensure that the market is operational by the promised deadline in May 2024. We stand in solidarity with the affected community and will continue to monitor the situation closely, advocating their best interests.

Thank you.”