![]() Drone shot of the Kumasi Central Market from above | |
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Location | Kumasi, Ghana |
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Coordinates | 6°41′55″N1°37′09″W / 6.698635°N 1.619140°W |
Address | Kejetia Road |
Opening date | 1924 |
Management | Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Ashanti Monarch |
No. of stores and services | approx. 8,000+ |
The Kumasi Central Market, also known as Kejetia Market, is an open-air marketplace in Kumasi, a city in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The market has over 8,000 stores and stalls, [1] making it the largest single market in West Africa. About 50,000 people visit the market daily, while there are 20,000 vendors operating in it. [2]
The market, along with the makola market in Accra, was established in 1924, modeled after British markets in order to house large numbers of vendors. [3] This led to an increase of market and street trading in the city. During this time, a lorry park was constructed to help with the large number of people who go to the market. [2] Due to the lack of investment in the market, infrastructure and hygiene conditions were poor. Because of this, the colonial government tried to promote large-scaled industrialization to stop the even-increasing number of vendors. Although, after Ghana's independence, there was still a large percentage of the workforce working in small-scale activities including trading. [4]
In August 2015, the Government of Ghana announced a redevelopment plan for the entire market. [5] The project is currently on its second phase. [6]
The first phase of the project begun in 2015 and was valued at a cost of US$259,425,000 by the John Dramani Mahama government. [6] The phase included a brand new market equipped with about 8,420 stores. It was completed in late 2018. [7]
The second phase was undertaken by the Nana Akufo-Addo government and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene on 2 May 2019 for work to commence. It is estimated to cost around US$248 million and is being financed by Deutsche Bank. [7] It is still yet to be completed. [6]
Fire outbreaks have historically been an issue of the Kejetia market. In January and March 2016, fires destroyed more than 200 shops and vendors' property. [8]
In January 2025 there was another fire outbreak at the Kejetia market in Kumasi. [9]
On 28 June 2022, the market was taken off the national grid over huge debts that had accrued for 14 months. The market has had power restored following a 20 percent payment of the GH¢5.2 million debt owed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). [10]