The scheduled completion of the Second Phase of the Kejetia/Central Market Re-development project by June 2024 has suffered another major hitch.
Workers on the project, being executed by Contracta Construction UK Limited, laid down their tools last Monday to press home demands for pay rise and better conditions of service.
The action by the workers would defeat the assurance by the contractor to complete the project by June 2024 or earlier, as management of the construction firm has not resolved the impasse one week after the industrial strike begun.
The Community Relations Officer of Contracta, Mr. Emmanuel Danso, has given the assurance that management was working on the demands of the aggrieved employees, and that negotiations were ongoing with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to resolve the issues.
Three major projects that were being constructed by Contracta Construction UK Limited in Kumasi were likely to be stalled until the negotiations were finalised.
The affected projects are the Phase II of Kejetia Redevelopment Market, reconstruction of the Kumasi Airport, and the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
The redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market at €248 million is being financed by the Deutsche Bank of Germany, with export credit guarantee from the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF).
The second phase of the project is expected to house 6,500 leasable commercial spaces, 5,400 closed stores; 800 kiosks, 50 restaurants and 210 fishmongers and butchers stores, and 40 livestock stores, among others, as well as provide 900 direct jobs and 2,500 indirect jobs to improve the lot of residents of Kumasi.
The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, cut the sod for the €248-million facility on May 2, 2019 for completion in 36 months, but it has been delayed due to set backs from congestion and difficulties in acquisition of the project site, and lately the demand for pay rise.
