Location | Kumasi, Ghana |
---|---|
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. 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. [3]
In August 2015, the Government of Ghana announced a redevelopment plan for the entire market. [4] The project is currently on its second phrase. [5]
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. [5] The phase included a brand new market equiped with about 8,420 stores. It was completed in late 2018. [6]
The second phrase 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. [6] It is still yet to be completed. [5]
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. [7]
In 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). [8]
Kumasi, also spelled as Comassie or Coomassie, is a city and the capital of the Kumasi Metropolitan district and the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It is the second largest city in the country, with a population of 443,981 as of the 2021 census. Kumasi is located in a rain forest region near Lake Bosomtwe and is located about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Accra. Major ethnic groups who lived in Kumasi are the Asante, Mole-Dagbon and Ewe. The current mayor of the metropolitan is Samuel Pyne.
Osei Tutu II is the 16th Asantehene, enstooled on 26 April 1999. By name, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is in direct succession to the 17th-century founder of the Ashanti Empire, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I. He is also the Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. A Freemason, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has served as the Grand Patron of the Grand Lodge of Ghana, the Sword Bearer of the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Patron of the Grand Lodge of Liberia.
The Ashanti Region is located in the southern part of Ghana and is the third largest of 16 administrative regions, occupying a total land surface of 24,389 km2 (9,417 sq mi) and making up 10.2 percent of the total land area of Ghana. It is the most populated region in Ghana, with a population of 5,440,463 according to the 2021 census, accounting for around one-sixth of Ghana's total population. The Ashanti Region is known for its gold bar and cocoa production. The largest city and capital of Ashanti is Kumasi.
Obuasi is a gold mining town and is the capital of the Obuasi Municipal District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It lies in the southern part of the Obuasi Municipal and is located about 39 mi (63 km) from Kumasi. As of 2012, the town has a population of 175,043 people. The current mayor of the town is Hon. Elijah Adansi-Bonah.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), commonly known as UST, Tech or Kwame Tech, is a public university located in Kumasi, Ashanti region, Ghana. The university focuses on science and technology. It is the second public university established in the country, as well as the largest university in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
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