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Reconstruction works has started on a portion of the Madina market which was gutted by fire on April 10, this year in the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
This follows the successful relocation of the affected traders who were given August 31 deadline by the Municipal Assembly to vacate the area to the car park for work to begin on September 1.
The new edifice expected to be completed in three months would contain 120 stores, 78 smaller shops, fire tender base, revenue offices, banking spaces, sanitation and disability ramps, and washrooms.
The project is been undertaken by AMMA Integrated Construction, with FeDems serving as the consultants.
When the Ghanaian Times visited the construction site on Thursday the contractors were busily working on the foundation which they said would be completed within two weeks, while the traders have been relocated to a section of the car park.
The blaze consumed everything in the one-storey structure consisting of 30 stores and more than 60 sheds, of over 100 traders.
The traders, who had closed their shops and gone home, lost all their wares as fire-fighters, who arrived after distress calls, could not gain access to the market.
But the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, following appeals from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate, Robert Lamptey and officials of the assembly visited the scene on April 19and assured them of reconstruction of the market into a modern facility.
He directed the assembly to take detailed records of the victims to facilitate their relocation and assured of the market’s rebuilding within three months.
He also donated an unspecified amount of money to the affected traders and assured that the Ghana Enterprises Agency would assist the affected traders with start-up capitals to enable them continue their business activities.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mrs Jennifer Dede Adjabeng, after the Vice President’s visit held series of meetings with the affected traders and gave an August 31deadline for them to vacate the area to enable the contractor demolish the burnt structure and commence work on September 1 this year.
The MCE followed up on this directive and handed over the site to the contractor after a ground-breaking ceremony and urged the traders to allow the contractor to work without interference with assurances that they would be given back their shops once the reconstruction is completed.
Mr Lamptey, on his part said the reconstruction of the market was a priority for the Vice President and urged the traders to support the contractor by avoiding interference, and assured them of priority in reallocation once the project is finished.
The Public Relations Officer of the Market Association, Nana Kwesi Osei, commended the government, for its support.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
