Staff of the Works Department at the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) in the Western Region have inspected the temporary place which has been alloted to contain traders at the Takoradi Market Circle to pave way for the commencement of the redevelopment of the Market.
The staff led by the Metro Works Engineer, William Tei Kpoti together with staff of the Contracta Construction Company in charge of the Takoradi Market Circle Redevelopment Project toured the entire facility to ascertain the progress of work.
Briefing journalists about the progress of work at the site, Mr William Tei Kpoti hinted that work is about 80 percent complete and expected to be fully completed by the end of November 2020.
He explained that the project which started on September 15 was initially expected to be completed by October 15 but due to some few challenges, work was delayed going beyond the expected time.
He therefore gave the assurance that work would be completed at the stipulated time to enable the contractor for the redevelopment project to begin work on the project.
He added that the traders will be allocated to their respective shops in the next two weeks while others will follow in like manner till all the traders are finally relocated there.
Giving the scope of work at the site, he mentioned the land size of the site as six acres to accommodate 1,500 traders and further expecting an additional five acres to make it 11 acres to accommodate over 2000 traders.
Mr Kpoti announced that the temporal place shall comprise all kinds of traders at the Market Circle and shall be filled with chipping stones whereas canopies shall be provided for traders within the inner perimeters.
He assured the traders of an improved and efficient security system such as street lighting, security personnel presence and mounted gates at vantage entries into the market.
Later in an interview with Spice News, Mr Samuel Ofori Larbi, Managing Director of Asabea Construction Ltd disclosed that the STMA is expecting about 5,000 shops for the entire 11 acre site with each of the three bays generating about 2,000 shops.
He mentioned what was left to be done as ground works, construction of additional inner stores, fixing of metal gates, electrical installations and giving a facelift to the toilet facilities.
He said the contractor to take the redevelopment project cannot delay in his work and gave the assurance that work will be at a fast pace to get ready for the new site expected to host the traders at the Takoradi Market Circle.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
