Source: tntnewspapergh.com

The occupants of the Asafo Market within the Kumasi metropolis have been given an ultimatum to vacate their stalls to pave the way for a contractor to commence work to redevelop the market on Sunday, 25th February 2024.

The Assembly invoked its statutory powers to engage the service of a contractor on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis to redevelop the Asafo Market. The decision is aimed at enhancing the current state of the market and its value.

The “New Trust” newspaper has gathered that the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), on 25th May 2023 in a letter signed by the then Metro Co-ordinating Director, Mr Kwadwo Akuoamoah Boateng, for the Metro Chief Executive, was served to all occupants of Asafo Market stalls to vacate the stalls for redevelopment.

The letter dated 25th May 2023, which was addressed to all occupants of Asafo Market stalls, was entitled: “DEMAND TO HAND OVER VACANT POSSESSION FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MARKET”.

The letter read: “As you are very much aware, we invoked our statutory powers to engage the service of a contractor to redevelop Asafo Market which is aimed at enhancing the living conditions of the property and its value.

“In this regard, we write this letter to formally demand from you to vacate the stalls which you currently possess to pave the way for the redevelopment as the contractor has formally communicated his readiness to commence the 2nd Phase of the construction.

Hon Samuel Pyne,Kumasi Mayor

“Please ensure that the property is left in its original condition without any damage or alterations and also ensure that you submit your names, identification cards and your stall details to the office of the contractor to guarantee your right of first option to repossess the said stalls.

“We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation. We understand that vacating a property can be stressful, but we hope to make this process easier for you.Thank you.

Signed Kwadwo Akuoamoah Boateng (Metro Co-ordinating Director) for Metro Chief Executive.”

As a backgrounder

The Asafo Market is a trading centre at Asafo in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, near the Asafo Interchange.

The market was formerly called Nkrumah Market, which was named after the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, but the name was changed to Asafo Market when Dr. Nkrumah was overthrown.

This paper has learnt that already the 2nd Phase of the project, which is made up of about 100 shops have been completed.

Moreover, the contractor for the project, since last year, has allocated temporary shops to many occupants who will be affected by the next phase of the project.

Our news team has observed that a giant billboard has been erected in front of the market to create awareness to the occupants of the stalls and the general public about the readiness of the contractor to start work aside from several stakeholder engagements.

The inscription on the giant billboard reads: “REDEVELOPMENT OF ASAFO MARKET INTO MODERN MARKET.
CLIENT: KUMASI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY’
CONTRACT DURATION:6 MONTHS
SITE LOCATION: ASAFO MARKET
CONTRACTOR: GREAT NABIL COMPANY LTD

COMMENCEMENT: SUNDAY, 25TH FEBRUARY 2024

CONTRACTOR’S ADDRESS: GREAT NABIL COMPANY LTD.P.O.BOX KS 6262

When Mr. Samuel Pyne, the Mayor of KMA, was contacted on Thursday,1st February 2024, he confirmed the plans for the next phase of the ongoing redevelopment of the Asafo Market into a modern market to kick-start on Sunday 25th February, 2024.

He, therefore, admonished the occupants to strictly adhere to the directives to move to the temporary allocated shops.

Mr Samuel Pyne said all the necessary engagements with the occupants had been done.

According to him, per an engagement with the affected occupants, they were ready to move to temporary shops which had been provided by the contractor in the same market. He added that they would remain in the temporary allocated place until the completion of the 3rd Phase.

“I’m appealing for their fullest support to the contractor to enable him to complete the phase as scheduled. We’re redeveloping the market into a modern one for their own good devoid of fire outbreaks,” the mayor said.

He explained that because of the total number of traders or occupants in the market, the Assembly, in consultation with the contractor, decided to do the project in phases.

Mr Pyne said they also engaged the contractor on Monday, 29th January 2024 and advised him to work within the scheduled time without any delay.

“During our meeting with the contractor, he agreed to accommodate all original occupants of the stalls and not squatters in the completed phases within the market,” he added.