Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, is expected to meet leaders of trader unions affected by the stalled Kejetia Market Phase II project (Central Market) in Kumasi today as government steps up efforts to revive the long-delayed redevelopment.
The meeting is expected to give the Minister an opportunity to engage directly with representatives of the affected traders and communicate government’s plans for completing the project, which has remained a major concern for traders and residents of the Kumasi Metropolis.
The engagement comes shortly after Mr Ayariga inspected the Kejetia Phase II and Krofrom Market projects during a working visit to Kumasi on August 30.
The inspection was aimed at assessing the current state of the projects, identifying the challenges behind the delays and exploring measures to facilitate the resumption and completion of the works.
The Kejetia Phase II project, which forms part of the redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market, has faced prolonged delays, with construction suspended amid financial and contractual challenges.
Government said in May that the project was about 58.22 per cent complete when work was suspended, with engineering works reported to be substantially advanced.
The original contract, awarded in 2018 at a cost of €248 million, has since seen its projected cost rise to about €305.3 million due to delays, suspension claims and other outstanding financial obligations.
The previous government’s debt restructuring programme and the broader financial constraints associated with Ghana’s economic difficulties have been cited by government as contributing to the inability to settle outstanding Interim Payment Certificates, resulting in the demobilisation of the contractor.
The prolonged suspension has heightened concerns among traders and residents, with trader groups repeatedly calling for the project to resume. In April 2026, the Combined Kumasi Central Market Traders Union demanded the immediate return of contractors to site and threatened further action if work did not resume.
The delay has also had wider implications for commercial activity in the city, contributing to congestion and pushing some traders and hawkers onto streets and pavements within the central business district, according to recent government and media reports.
The Phase II development is intended to complement the existing Kejetia facility by providing additional commercial spaces and improving trading conditions in one of Ghana’s major commercial centres. The project is expected to provide thousands of trading spaces and create direct and indirect employment when completed.
Mr Ayariga has pledged to work with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, contractors and other stakeholders to address the outstanding challenges and facilitate the completion of the project.
Today’s meeting with the trader unions is therefore expected to focus on the government’s proposed financing and implementation arrangements, the concerns of affected traders and the way forward for the resumption of construction.
For traders who have endured years of uncertainty over the project, the engagement is expected to provide further clarity on government’s plans and the prospects for the long-awaited completion of the Kejetia Phase II redevelopment.
Source:www.kumasimail.com
