Kejetia Market

Last updated

Kumasi Central Market
Kejetia Market
Kumasi.jpg
Drone shot of the Kumasi Central Market from above
Kejetia Market
Location Kumasi, Ghana
Coordinates 6°41′55″N1°37′09″W / 6.698635°N 1.619140°W / 6.698635; -1.619140
AddressKejetia Road
Opening date1924;100 years ago (1924)
Management Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
Ashanti Monarch
No. of stores and servicesapprox. 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]

Contents

Formation

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]

Redevelopment project

In August 2015, the Government of Ghana announced a redevelopment plan for the entire market. [5] The project is currently on its second phrase. [6]

Phase 1

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]

Phase 2

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. [7] It is still yet to be completed. [6]

Incidents

Fires

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]

Power

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). [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumasi</span> City in Ashanti Region, Ghana

Kumasi is a city and the capital of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly 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. The city experiences a tropical savanna climate, with two rainy reasons which range from minor to major. Major ethnic groups who lived in Kumasi are the Asante, Mole-Dagbon and Ewe. The current mayor of the metropolitan is Samuel Pyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II</span> Ghanaian monarch of Asante

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashanti Region</span> Region of Ghana

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obuasi</span> Mining Town in Ashanti Region, Ghana

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asante Kotoko S.C.</span> Association football club based in Kumasi

Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, simply known as Asante Kotoko, is a professional football club founded on 31 August 1935 and based in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Nicknamed the Porcupine Warriors, they compete in the Ghana Premier League and play their home matches at the Baba Yara Stadium in Amakom, Kumasi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahamudu Bawumia</span> Vice-President of Ghana

Mahamudu Bawumia is a Ghanaian politician and former central banker who serves as the sixth vice president of Ghana in the fourth Ghanaian Republic. He assumed office on 7 January 2017 as vice president of Ghana. He was the New Patriotic Party (NPP) nominee for president in the 2024 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Council of State (Ghana)</span>

The Council of State in Ghana is a small body of prominent citizens, analogous to the Council of Elders in the traditional political system, which advises the president on national issues.

The Asafo Interchange is a dual carriage road system interchange in Kumasi the capital of Ashanti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare</span> Ghanaian lawyer and politician

Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare is a Ghanaian lawyer and politician who served as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts. She was appointed to this position by President John Mahama in 2013 when he formed his first substantive government. She is a member of the National Democratic Congress. She is currently a member for the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana representing the Techiman North Constituency.

Samuel Sarpong is a Ghanaian politician and a former Ashanti Regional Minister of Ghana. Prior to heading the Ashanti Region, he was the Central Regional Minister. Former Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francisca Oteng-Mensah</span> Ghanaian politician and businesswoman

Francisca Oteng-Mensah is a member of parliament of the New Patriotic Party for the Kwabre East Constituency and was known as the youngest parliamentarian of the fourth republic of Ghana at the time of her election in 2016.

Maxwell Kofi Jumah is a Ghanaian politician and a former Mayor of Kumasi, former Member of Parliament for the Asokwa Constituency in the Ashanti Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patricia Appiagyei</span> Ghanaian politician (born 1956)

Patricia Appiagyei is a Ghanaian politician, one-time Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister and the first female mayor of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. She is the Member of Parliament (MP) in the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, representing Asokwa Constituency. She is a member of the New Patriotic Party in Ghana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adum</span>

Adum is suburb of Kumasi. Kumasi is the regional capital of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Adum is a commercial area with some residential areas. It is in the centre of the regional capital. Adum is a town in the Ashanti Region and it is the central business area of Kumasi. Adum is located between Bantama and Nhyiaso. Most people refer to Adum as Kumasi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kojo Bonsu</span> Ghanaian businessman and politician

Kojo Bonsu is a Ghanaian businessman, sports administrator, and politician, who served as the Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly from 2013 to 2016. He is a member of the National Democratic Congress.

Samuel Boadu is a Ghanaian professional football manager and former player who last served as the head coach of Accra Hearts of Oak S.C. in the Ghana Premier League and serves as the assistant coach of the Ghana national U-20 team. He previously coached Tarkwa-based club Medeama S.C. and the Ghana national U-15 team.

Benjamin Mensah is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ghanaian Premier League side Accra Hearts of Oak. He is considered one of the experienced goalkeepers in the Ghana Premier League after previously having stints with Accra Great Olympics, King Faisal Babes and New Edubiase United.

Atasemanso is a town in the Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Grace Boadu Kumanin was a Ghanaian herbal medicine practitioner, the founder and CEO of Grace Gift Herbal Hospital and Laboratory Services. She was a member of the World Diplomatic Federation and also the Herbal Health Evangelion Ambassador.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Mensah et al. 2022, p. 4.
  2. 1 2 Okoye 2020, p. 9.
  3. ↑ admin (4 March 2023). "Africa's Largest Open-Air Single Market". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  4. ↑ Okoye 2020, p. 4.
  5. ↑ Kenu 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Boadu 2022.
  7. 1 2 Kenu 2019.
  8. ↑ Okoye 2020, p. 10.
  9. ↑ Amoh 2022.

Sources

Web articles

News articles

Journal articles

6°41′55″N1°37′09″W / 6.698635°N 1.619140°W / 6.698635; -1.619140

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.