Prince Acquah, GNA
Ajumako (C/R), Nov. 15, GNA – The construction of a 24-hour economy market in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District in the Central Region which commenced in April this year is progressing steadily, with nine per cent of the work completed.
The multi-facility project, scheduled for completion in 24 months, is designed to have commercial building housing banks and other businesses, lockable shops, market sheds, an abattoir, food courts, and a fire station among other facilities.
A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the project site at Enyan Abowinum, about five kilometres from Ajumako, the district capital, on Wednesday, showed that workers were on site, with some foundation works were underway.
A portion of the four-acre land earmarked for the project had been cleared to make way for the initial works while a significant portion, which appeared to be farmland, remained unclear.
The GNA also saw granite chippings, an excavator, a concrete mixer, and iron rods among other items at the site. A borehole had also been drilled, while a workers’ accommodation facility was under construction.
Mr Francis Atinyo, the Project Engineer, told the GNA that construction was currently focused on the lockable shops which were 12 per cent complete.
He noted that excavation had been completed; reinforcement mats and column works had been undertaken, with concrete casting scheduled to begin soon, followed by blockwork on the substructure.
He explained that construction of all facilities was expected to run concurrently, but discrepancies in the architectural design had delayed work on most of them.
He said the original building designs were larger than the available site, requiring the consultant to revise the plans and adjust the positioning of the structures.
He expressed hope that the revised designs would be ready before the end of the week to enable work to proceed in earnest.
That notwithstanding, the engineer maintained that the project remained on schedule, assuring that it would be completed within the stipulated 24 months, provided the government fulfilled its financial obligations.
“So far, we are receiving funding regularly and there is nothing that has hindered that because the certificates that have been raised have been honoured by the clients,” he said.
Unlike the Big Push Road projects in the district, Mr Atinyo said the rainy season had not affected their work, and they had not encountered any disputes with landowners.
He noted that the project was creating employment and business opportunities for residents as most labourers were drawn from the local communities with some workers coming from Accra.
Additionally, some construction materials, including wood, were sourced locally.
“By December, we should be done with the foundation work for all the buildings so that from January, we will start with the superstructure. By July, at least, some of the commercial buildings should be ready,” the project engineer assured.
Meanwhile, some traders in the area have expressed concern about the location of the market and the lack of alternative trading spaces for those being displaced by ongoing road constructions.
They said Abowinum was relatively far from the district capital, Ajumako, and other communities, which would make it difficult for traders and customers to access the market.
Uncle Fii, a shoe and bag seller, lauding the initiative, said the market would have served traders better if it had been located in the centre of Ajumako, where it would be more accessible to residents of surrounding communities.
“It will be difficult for people from Ajumako, Ochiso, Hasowodze and other communities to travel to Abowinum to buy goods. The market should have been located in the centre of town, and so honestly, I do not think the location is suitable,” he said.
Uncle further said traders were worried about where they would operate until the new market was completed as they were being evacuated without compensation to make way for the Big Push project.
“Where are we expected to go? Are we supposed to stay at home and watch our families go hungry? We pay three different forms of revenue to the Assembly, so the authorities should treat us fairly.
“Officials from the Assembly, together with the road engineer, were here and promised to find us an alternative place to trade. But we still do not know where they are taking us to,” he complained.
Nana Afua Abasowah, Adontenhenmaa of Ajumako Abrofoa, also disagreed with the location of the market, describing it as “inconvenient” and appealing for a possible relocation.
She said business was already slow, with traders making most of their sales only on Mondays, the main market day.
She said the area became heavily congested on market days, with traders displaying goods along the roadside, creating safety risks for both traders and road users.
Affected by the Big Push, Nana Abasowah welcomed the road construction but appealed to the authorities to provide alternative trading spaces before evicting traders from their current locations.
Another trader, Comfort Baidoo, reiterated that the frequent movement of heavy-duty trucks on the road during construction increased the risk of accidents, particularly when the market became overcrowded.
She appealed to the authorities to provide a temporary trading area until the 24-hour economy market was completed.
Other traders also called for the speedy completion of the project, saying the lack of permanent trading spaces and slow sales were affecting their livelihoods.
Ms Phoebe Akyerefi, a tomato seller from Breman Essiam, urged the Assembly to complete the construction of some stalls at the existing market, which she said had stalled, before embarking on a new one.
“As for the 24-hour economy market, the authorities should expedite work to ensure its completion because we are suffering. Our goods are often left to rot because business is slow, and sales are poor,” she said.
Madam Esi Attah, a gari and maize seller, also appealed to the government to fulfil its promise to establish a bank for women, saying traders continued to depend on loans with high interest rates to sustain their businesses.
Some traders called for improved sanitation in the market, and the surrounding towns.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Prince AcquahÂ
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