Trade Fair exhibition, convention centre to be ready in 8 months — CEO

The Ghana Trade Fair Convention and Exhibition Centre at La in Accra is expected to be ready in eight months.

When completed, the convention centre would boast over a-20,000 capacity multifunctional event space with a-5,000 square metre pre-event lobby completed with amenities such as a restaurant, a gift shop and seating lounges to accommodate all kinds of events.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Trade Fair Centre, Dr Agnes Adu, briefed the Vice-President and flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the December 7, 2024 presidential election, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, when he visited the site last Monday to see the status of the work.

Dr Adu said as the years rolled by since the 1960s, the environment had become so broken down that it needed serious rehabilitation.

She said the redevelopment had been the dream of successive governments but only under the current government, the board of directors and the current management that in 2017, began an ambitious redevelopment of the Trade Fair Site.

“We are developing a modern convention and exhibition enclave that we can all be proud of.  As you can imagine since 2017, this project had to clear a few hurdles, a couple of them including a global pandemic.

“We had to clear quite a few hurdles to make sure that this project starts and finishes and we are still on course,” she explained.

Dr Adu said the project resumed again in 2022 and as of today, the infrastructure that would service the 100-acre master plan such as roads, power, water and fibre had all been completed.

Space, private sector

Dr Bawumia reassured players in the creative arts industry that when completed, the country would have a bigger auditorium for their events.

He said one of the biggest problems with the industry was space but expressed optimism that in eight months, that would be a thing of the past.

“What is happening and why we have made the progress we have made is because of the new approach we have adopted in bringing on board the public-private partnership.  That has been a game-changer and this is the way forward for Ghana as I have said in our manifesto,” the Vice-President added.

He further gave the assurance that he would do more to bring more to the private sector to take out the government expenditure of GH¢30 billion  each year in favour of the private sector.
Tracing the history of the project, Dr Bawumia said the project had been envisioned for a very long time but successive governments had not been able to execute it.

He described it as a much-needed project because “We believe that some of the key pillars for the growth of this economy lie in tourism and the creative arts.”

Dr Bawumia said that the reconstructed centre which would have an exhibition centre of 20,000 capacity was ten times the capacity the country had, and would open a whole new avenue for the creative arts, tourism and hosting of conventions and conferences.

“We see Ghana as a real destination for many conferences and exhibitions and creative arts shows. We already have “December in Ghana” and “Beyond the Return”.

Making his observation known, Dr Bawumia said he was impressed with the work so far but emphasised that the government would ensure that the contractors delivered on their schedule.

“What they are telling us is that in the next eight months, this project will be complete and we are going to hold them to it. I am hoping that by the grace of God, I will come and commission this project in September,” Dr Bawumia said amid chants and applause.