The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs has asserted that the John Dramani Mahama-led government is committed to completing the second phase of the Kejetia Market redevelopment project.
Speaking in an interview with GHOne TV, monitored by www.kumasimail.com the Minister emphasized that this achievement would politically disadvantage the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Kumasi.
Responding to questions about Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent remarks on the project, the Minister stated, “Who started Phase 1? We initiated and completed it. We were set to begin Phase 2 before losing power. The NPP had eight years but failed to complete it. Now, under President Mahama, we will finish it within two years.”
The Minister suggested that completing the project would shift political dynamics in Kumasi, a traditional NPP stronghold.
“Once we finish Kejetia Market Phase 2, the NPP will no longer have a foothold in Kumasi. It is one of our serious agendas to complete Kejetia Market Phase 2, mark my words—we will do monumental projects in Kumasi”, he declared.
He accused Dr. Bawumia of attempting to claim credit for the project’s progress, noting that Phase 1 was completed during Mahama’s administration.
“But Bawumia knows that we are going to finish it, and once we do, he won’t be able to go to Kumasi again”
He added “John Mahama handed over Phase 2 to them, but they couldn’t finish it in eight years”.
Former Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mahamudu Bawumia visited the Blue Light Market scene at Adum in Kumasi to commiserate with traders.
Dr Bawumia visited the scene on Tuesday, March 25.
During interaction with the traders, he said “I want to appeal to the [Mahama] government to complete the 80% done Kejetia Market Phase 2, that we started but couldn’t complete.”
Background on Kejetia Market Redevelopment
The Kejetia Market, West Africa’s largest open-air market, has been undergoing redevelopment since 2015. Phase 1 of the project, valued at $259 million, was completed under Mahama’s administration. Phase 2, estimated at $248 million and financed by Deutsche Bank, began under the Akufo-Addo government but has faced delays due to funding challenges and restructuring talks with the IMF.
The project was stalled since late 2022 due to financial constraints. The former Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah, is on record, to have stated that work on Phase 2 will resume after securing funding for other key projects like the Kumasi International Airport and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital maternity block.
Currently, the contractors are on site working but unclear whether the government has cleared the debts owed to them.
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
