Bekwai begins GH¢5.5 million market complex
The Bekwai Municipal Assembly (BMA) has cut the sod for the commencement of work on a multi-purpose market complex at Denyase near Bekwai in the Ashanti Region.
The project, which will cost GH¢5.5 million, is being funded from the Bekwai constituency’s share of the ‘One constituency, One million dollar’ project in fulfilment of the promise made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo during his campaign in 2016.
Upon completion in one year, the project would have a lorry terminal, stores, stalls, warehouses, sanitation facilities, tarred roads in the locality, offices and other facilities.
Land acquisition
A total of 100 acres has been secured by the BMA with support from the office of the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Mr Joseph Osei Owusu, for the multi-purpose project which includes an estate to be constructed by the State Housing Company.
However, the new market and the lorry terminal will only occupy 30 acres of the land.
Funding for the estate project will be provided by the State Construction Company after the preparation of the 70-acre land by the BMA.
One unique feature of the new market would be the availability of a lorry terminal to cater for hundreds of vehicles to and from various regions in the country.
Strategic location
The strategic location of the project at Denyase, which is very close to Anwiankwanta, was the surest way to create easy access to people from various communities and regions to connect to the new lorry terminal, the BMA says.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony at the site last Thursday, Mr Osei Owusu assured the people of the government’s readiness to fulfill every promise it made during the 2016 campaign.
He called on the people of the Bekwai Constituency to exercise restraint and patience as everything possible was being done to get them their share of the national cake.
The MP, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, was upbeat that the completion of the market, lorry terminal and the estate project would boost the local economy and the nation as a whole.
He urged the people of the area to support the contractors by cooperating with them so they would be able to complete the project on schedule for them to reap the benefits from it.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Kwaku Kyei Baffour, urged the contractor, Attachy Construction Company, to make sure they completed the work on schedule so it would serve its intended purpose.
He stated that the BMA would provide the needed assistance to the contractor to ensure early completion of the project.
Background
The chiefs and people of the Bekwai Municipality have over several decades had to make do with the old market facility and a lorry terminal nearby, which have all been maintained several times but looks very congested for the current population.
The construction of a new market and a modern lorry terminal were necessitated by the increasing population of the people of the Bekwai Municipality.
A successful completion of the new market and the lorry terminal project, therefore, would bring great relief to the people.
One Constituency, One Million Dollars
The Bekwai Municipality has for the past three years benefited in diverse ways from the Ministry of Special Development (which is in-charge of the One constituency, One million dollars initiative).
Some of the projects from the Ministry of Special Development include institutional toilets, community markets and community water systems among others, with the beneficiary communities being: Poano, Kensere Biribiwomam, Ofoase Kokoben, Denyaseman and Oppong Memorial Senior High School as well as the Bekwai Wesley High School.