Business News of Saturday, 4 June 2016
Source: ultimate1069.com
The new market facility for the kapkayili community in Tamale
There is a rising anger in Tamale, Northern Regional capital over a decision of the Mayor Hanan Gundadoo to commit a colossal amount of 4billion old Ghana cedis into building 12 lockable stores as a facility for the kapkayili community.
The Metropolitan Assembly in 2013 engaged the services of a local contractor in the region, Global One Construction Limited, to construct a market structure for the people of Kakpayili.
The Project according to the contractual agreement was to span for 7 months but it was halted and abandoned following host of controversies which included wrong sitting of a toilet facility.
However, the assembly managed to complete the project in 2016 and according to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Metropolis Musah, the cost of the 12 lockable stores and the mini slaughter house was GH440, 595.09
The revelations has caused anger and suspicion among many residents including the Assembly Member for the electoral area, Mohammed Abdul Rahman Alhassan who has vowed to challenge the cost of the project.
He told Ultimate News’ Eliasu Tanko though he was not in office when the contract was awarded he still believes the sum was over bloated and needed to be interrogated.
“I must be honest, it’s too much so something has to be done about it because I thought they are coming to add another stores here, that is what they told me. I don’t know where, is it added to that or it is also going to cost us different; if it is costing us different I don’t think it would be possible. It should be added to that, making it 24 (stores) and that would be okay for if not the should do something ..Its too much”
“I with challenge it because I simply have to to know when they are going to hand it over to me, I will by a means ask. How much is the cost, Where is the document. Because as a layman I can’t take charge of something which I don’t have documents. If somebody is asking me of that I don’t know what to say,” he fumed.
Meanwhile, some market women in the area have started lamenting about project.
According to them, they have been hinted to keep aside huge amount of monies if they needed spaces in the newly constructed market to sell their wares.
Recently, the City Mayor has come under intense media grilling over his inability to evacuate traders who have taken over streets and pavements to do business.
Whiles these market women risk their lives selling in the middle of the busy streets and under sweltering sun, the MCE maintained he was not ready to evacuate them especially when it is an election year.