GUTA CONFERS WITH KUMASI MAYOR
The Ashanti Regional Branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) led by the Regional Chairman Mr. Anthony Kwaku Oppong has paid a courtesy call on the Kumasi Mayor Hon. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi at his office.
According to Mr. Oppong, the visit was to officially congratulate and welcome him as the new Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA). He said the visit was also to solicit his support for trading in Kumasi since it is the Business Hub of the Region, saying they need his indulgence to boost business activities in the metropolis.
The regional chairman subsequently implored the Mayor to facilitate the completion of the Phase II of the Kejetia-Central Market Redevelopment project and the Krofrom Market to boost trading activities and also mitigate congestion in the metropolis.
He called on the Mayor to also solve the electric meter issues at the Kejetia market as well as fix the part of the market that was razed by fire in 2023.
In a case of the Race Course Market, Mr. Oppong called on the Mayor to find a lasting solution to the road network to improve trading activities, and as well construct a wall around the Abinkyi Market.
Mayor Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi in his responses expressed gratitude to the team for the visit and indicated that every country thrives on businesses because they employ a sector of the population, thus, reducing unemployment and crime rate.
He noted that government is committed to allocate funds to the contractors of the Phase II project to commence work by the end of July 2025 and hinted that the project will be completed two years from now.
He indicated that he has had a meeting with the contractor and consultant of the Kejetia Market concerning the portion that got burnt and was informed that they were going to integrate that part in the Phase II because if they start work there, they will have to eject both the affected and the unaffected traders there.
The Mayor also noted that there is a lay-by of the ongoing Suame Interchange at the Race Course Market and that any work at the market will be a waste of resources as of now.
Hon. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi also mentioned that he has had discussion with the President H.E. John Dramani Mahama on the completion of the Krofrom Market to ease congestion in the Central Business District.
He subsequently used the opportunity to inform the Association on the “Kumasi Business Connect” event which is slated for 7thto 9th November, 2025 at the Lancaster Hotel where key stakeholders will explore investment opportunities in the real estate, tourism, agribusiness, creative industry, technology, and finance sectors.