Y?n Pene Da!

Works on the redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market Project may go through legal hurdles before construction of the market finally begins, as some traders have already gone to the Human Rights Division of the Kumasi High Court seeking an order to injunct the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly from going ahead with the project.

Led by Bernice Serwaa Buckman, the lead plaintiff, they are praying the court to ask the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the construction firm undertaking the project, Contracta, to be called to order to avoid obstructing the enforcement of their fundamental human rights and freedom under Article 24(1), 33(1) and (5) of the 1992 Republican Constitution.

In a Motion of Notice filed by Francis Opuni Kesseh, Counsel for the plaintiffs, which has been sighted by The Chronicle, the traders are praying the court for an order restraining the KMA and Contracta, their associates namely: agents, workmen, assigns or any person claiming through them from demolishing their close to about 1,500 lockable shops for until the substantive application filed in court under Article 33 and 24 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 67 of the C.I 47 is determined on its merits.

The case is slated for hearing on Thursday 1st April, 2021 at 9 O’clock. The mega Central Market project, estimated to cost US $278m, is being constructed by Messrs Contracta Construction Company of the United Kingdom (UK) while the Bank of Germany are the financiers.

The two-year project will cover a total construction area of over 172,197m2, total leasable area of 52,701m2 and 44,594m2 parking spots for cars and vans. The main structure of the building will be pre-manufactured steel structure and beams.

The project, upon completion,will have 6,500 spaces to lease; 5,400 cold stores; 800 kiosks; 50 restaurants; 210 stalls for fishmongers and butchers and 40 livestock stalls. There will also be a police station, fire station, post office and hospital among others. Moreover, the project will create 900 direct and 2500 indirect jobs.

Last week, the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, under the leadership of Simon Osei-Mensah, issued an ultimatum to the traders to leave the market for work to begin, following the inability of the KMA to ask the market women to leave the market.

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