The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah says routes and roads around the redeveloped Kejetia market will be opened in two weeks time; that is on the 11th of February, 2019.
This, he explained is to allow for the flow of traffic around the market and the main Central Business District (CBD) of the Kumasi Metropolis.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mr Mensah said both the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC)and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) before the re-opening date will devote time to educate and sensitize the public especially traders and hawkers along the routes to stop their activities on the pavements and streets.
The Regional Security Council (REGSEC) as well as the Metropolitan Security Council (MESEC), the Minister noted will ensure every trader and hawker is off the streets on the re-opening date.
‘’Both the KMA and the ARCC are resolved to re-open the routes around the Kejetia market on the 11th of February but until then we are determined to do the necessary sensitization and education for the public so as to allow for sanity to prevail before the re-opening’’, Mr Osei-Mensah reiterated.
SATELLITE MARKETS:
The Minister noted that traders and hawkers who may be affected by the upcoming re-opening should take advantage of the over 34 other satellite markets available in the metropolis.
According to him, markets such as the Atonsu, Adumenu, Bantama, Tafo, Suame, Asokore Mampong as well as many others have spaces to accommodate any trader or hawker who decides to relocate there for business.
Transport operators who were assigned to make shift routes have been engaged to relocate to designated places agreed to by their authorities, the Minister hinted.
The upcoming re-opening, the Minister mentioned is aimed at making the routes free for traffic and less congested for businesses to go on smoothly in the metropolis.
‘’We are committed to ensuring the re-opening becomes exceedingly successful so that we by it can determine when it is appropriate to open the first phase of the market for trading activities to begin’’, Mr Osei Mensah stressed.
KMA MAYOR:
Speaking to the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper after the press conference, the Kumasi Metro Chief Executive, Osei Assibey Antwi said the KMA is partnering the ARCC to make the reopening exercise a success.
He noted the re-opening is to allow for easy traffic flow and nothing else, adding every effort is being expended to make the process a seamless one.
The Mayor commended the media and other stakeholders for the collaborative effort in sensitizing the public about the upcoming re-opening.
He urged commercial drivers who were given make shift routes to operate prior the upcoming re-opening to contact their leaders to know their designated places of loading as well as parking so as to ensure no inconvenience is created for anyone.
OTHERS:
Present at the briefing were the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Elizabeth Agyemang, Alidu Seidu, Asokore Mampong Municipal Chief Executive, Dr Evans Bobie, Suame Municipal Chief Executive and Kusi Boafo, Executive Director-Public Sector Reforms.
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