Story by: Bright Boadi
Email: nyansakyeame1@gmail.com
The committee set up by the Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development (MLGDRD) Hon. Daniel Botwe, to probe the fire out break that gutted parts of the newly constructed Kejetia market in the Ashanti Region, today presented its report to the sector minister, in Accra.
The report contains findings and recommendations, among other things, to forestall a recurrence of the incident and to ensure the overall efficient operation, maintenance and management of the market.
The presentation of the report followed the completion of work by the Five-member committee chaired by Professor Theophilus Adjei-Kumi, a lecturer at the Department of Construction Technology and Management at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST Other members of the committee are Mr. Francis Koffie-ESQ, private legal practioner and managing director, M/S Koffie and Partners, Mr. Kofi Ampong, valuer, property manager and real estate consultant, Mr. Daniel Kwaku Denteh, deputy director general- National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), with Mrs Emelia Ayebeng Botchway Regional Cordinationg Director at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council as Member/secretary.
The committee which was tasked to make its findings ready within three weeks was constituted on March 17 after fire gutted parts of the Kejetia market on the 15th of March, 2023.
Presenting the report, Professor Theophilus Adjei-Kumi, chairman for the committee thanked the minister for the confidence reposed in the members to carry out such an important assignment, and for them it was an honour done them to serve their country in that capacity.
He mentioned that the committee members knowing that it was an important assignment with a huge responsibility and expectation from government for the good people of Ashanti region and the country at large, a lot of dedication was committed to the execution of the task given them.
He stated that the committee engaged and interacted with a number of users and stakeholders of the market; from management to traders and a host of others to arrive at the findings and recommendations that have been captured in the report.
Commendation.
In response to the receipt of the report, Hon. Daniel Botwe was full of immense appreciation to the committee and congratulated them greatly on completing their work and submitting same.
He said the way in which the work was done by the committee satisfies what the terms of reference setting them up was requiring; with special emphasis on the efficient management of the facility that will inure to the benefit of the tax payer for the investment made into the market.
He assured the committee of his commitment to taking the findings of the report very seriously and to follow through on the implementation to the final conclusion on the recommendations proffered.
This he said will be done with all relevant stakeholders to solve all the issues raised in the report and to safeguard a national asset like the New Kejetia Market to serve several generations to come.
Background
On the 15th of March, 2023, there were media reports on a massive fire that engulfed the recently constructed Kejetia Market in Kumasi.
The inferno gutted parts of the market. And at the time it was unclear what triggered the outbreak, which left traders and the general public in shock and despair as the fire was fought by personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
In a swift response, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development moved in to ascertain what had happened and subsequently set up a five-member committee on the 17th of March, 2023 to probe the incident.
The committee was tasked with specific terms of Reference to work within three weeks after which the findings were to be presented to the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) for necessary actions to be taken.