Kumasi, June 2, GNA – Members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), on Tuesday unanimously called for the reconstruction of the entire Kumasi Central Market into a modern market complex. They have therefore appealed to the executive committee of the assembly to re-open negotiations with private investors who had already expressed interest in the rebuilding of the market. According to the members, the assembly had already agreed to the proposals and drawings of the private investors and what was needed now was the permission to go ahead to reconstruct the market.
The assembly members made the call during a debate on the recent fire outbreak in the central market at their first meeting for in Kumasi on Tuesday.
According to the members, even though the fire disaster was unfortunate and had caused severe pain to many traders in the market, it should serve as an opportunity to start the reconstruction project which had been on the drawing board for several years.
They said congestion, coupled with illegal activities, haphazard electrical wiring system and the old nature of structures in the market had been the major causes of fire outbreaks in the market over the years.
The assembly members also called on NADMO and the government to provide relief items and other assistance to the victims, while urging the assembly to also provide temporary settlement for the affected traders to sell their wares. Mr Samuel Sarpong, Metropolitan Chief Executive who briefed the members on the disaster, said a five-member committee had been constituted by the Regional coordinating council (RCC) to investigate the cause of the fire outbreak and make recommendations. The committee has two weeks to complete its work.
Mr Kofi Senya, the Presiding Member, appealed to Members of Parliament in Kumasi to show keen interest in the activities of the assembly.
