Work on Kejetia Market stalls because of land dispute

pulse-ghana admin

June 15, 2017 9:51 AM

Unresolved land disputes in the area of the Kejetia Market threatens 30 month completion of the project

___6842631___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___6842631___2017___6___15___11___file6vdsiqxl8ba171nxnjjb

The Kejetia Market project might be stalled for a while pending difficulties faced by contractors, especially land litigations in the area for the construction.

Construction of utilities have stalled over six months and constructors have said the 30-month completion schedule may be impossible.

Contracta Engenharia Ltda, the Brazilian construction firm that is in charge of the project began work in July 2015 and is expected to complete in January 2018.

The project which costs $298 million includes the the construction of over 10, 000 stores and re-construction of the Kejetia Terminal.

The Redevelopment which is 70% complete has been made almost impossible to continue following a suit by a private businessman against the contractor.

They have been restricted from working within sixty meters of the private facility.

READ ALSO: 78-year-old man murdered

Project consultant, Anthony Yeboah-Asare says he is skeptical about meeting the set date for completion with the ongoing litigation still unsettled.

“As we are talking now, there is a portion of the land which we call the technical area which is still being disputed and that’s where they are going to do utility installations; the water pumps, the transformers, gas stations and things like that. These are key installations that are going to support the operations of the market which are still not on-board even though the machines are in the system," he told journalists in Kumasi.

Other major components of the construction that has been put on hold because of the suit is the development of a ring-road.

READ ALSO: Hotel owner killed in Kumasi

Project Manager, Jorge Tavares Almeda had earlier appealed to who was on an inspection tour at the project site to help address the issue of the disputed land.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has pledged to help resolve the dispute by settling it out of court.

The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has meanwhile permitted the eviction of some traders to the Race Course area to give access to the contractors to develop a portion of the invaded by traders.

pulse-ghana admin