Naked demo hits Kojo Bonsu

Traders at Kejetia as well as the Kumasi Central Market have vowed to go naked before the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Kojo Bonsu, and anyone who dares come there with the intent to demolish and undertake any reconstruction exercise at those places.

The proposed move, according to the women, would be a way of stopping a planned demolition exercise which would pave way for the reconstruction of the place, starting next month.

Several fires occur at the market each year, destroying property worth several thousands of cedis.

The market women, who spoke on Fox FM’s morning show on Thursday, feared the exercise would make them lose their spots at the business centres. Some also feared their only source of livelihood would suffer immensely, thereby plunging their families into hardship.

The angry market women mentioned the mayor’s name several times and vowed not to allow any reconstruction works to go on there.

Spokesman for the Kumasi Mayor, Samuel Gyamfi, explained that the fear of the traders was misplaced as other shops had already been acquired to accommodate traders who would lose their shops during the demolition exercise.

He also assured property owners who were likely to lose their property of fair compensation.

City authorities believe the only way to end the recurrent fires as well as congestion at the Central Market and Kejetia is to reconstruct the entire market.

Mr Samuel Gyamfi also revealed that transport operators around the central business district would be moved to the race course area which is being prepared specially for that purpose.

An amount of $298 million is expected to be spent on the reconstruction of the Central Market.

The project would be built in three phases, starting with the Kumasi Kejetia bus terminal at the cost of $198 million.

The second and the third phases, valued at $100 million, would centre on works at the main Kumasi Central Market.

The sod would be cut on March 31, 2015 for the first phase to begin, which would last for 24 to 36 months.

A Brazilian firm, Contracta, has been sole sourced for the contract.