KUMASI MAYOR INTERACTS WITH ASAFO MARKET FIRE VICTIMS
The Mayor of Kumasi, Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi onTuesday 7th May, interacted with victims of the recent fire outbreakat the Asafo Market, assuring that the city authorities would work assiduouslyin alleviating their plight.
He said the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) wasaware of the difficulties the traders had been going through as a result of theloss of their property and entreated them to remain calm.
Hon. Assibey Antwi, who was addressing the tradersduring a courtesy call on him at his office in Kumasi, emphasized the need forthe market to be redeveloped.
This was critical to preventing congestion and theperennial fire outbreaks at the Market, one of the most strategic satellitemarkets in the metropolis.
He said in pursuance of this vision, a team of InformationTechnology (IT) experts would be tasked to compile credible database of affectedshop owners and tenants for records purposes.
The Assembly, he noted, would advertise and gothrough the procurement processes to select a contractor who would be able toconstruct the market within the shortest possible time.
The Trade and Industry sub-Committee Convener, Hon.Alexander Kesse, who was also present at the meeting, was tasked to look for asuitable place not too far from the market to prepare temporary sheds for theaffected traders to continue their business.
In line with this, the traders were to nominatethree persons to liaise with the trade and industry sub- committee on issuesbothering the reconstruction of the market.
The Mayor also hinted that, the Deputy Minister forWorks and Housing, Hon. Eugene Boakye Antwi, who happens to be the Member ofParliament for Subin, also inspected the market after the fire incident andrealized that one of the major challenges facing the market was the drainagesystem around the market which needs to be worked on.
The Director-General of NADMO, Nana Agyeman Prempehhas also inspected the facility and has ordered for a complete clearing of theold burnt unit and advised for the rebuilding of the market taking intoconsideration safety.
Meanwhile, the KumasiMayor informed the traders that, the Assembly was still waiting for the finalreport on the recent fire outbreak from the Ghana National Fire service andNational Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).