Completion Of Kejetia Project Extended By 6 Months

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi

Completion of the redevelopment of the Kejetia Lorry Terminal project has been rescheduled for July next year.

The project, being executed by Messrs. Contracta Engenharia Ltd from Brazil, on a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBO&T) at an estimated cost of US$259,425,000 and started on July 14, 2015 to be completed in 30 months by January 13, 2018, would need six more months for completion.

The Metro Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Osei Assibey Antwi, quoting a report from the consultant on the Kejetia/Central project explained the delay in the non-availability of the entire site to the contractor has resulted in the delay, following which the contractor has requested for additional six months extension of time to complete the project.

He said the KMA, under the supervision of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has appointed a third party, Messrs. Avangarde Design Services to provide holistic all-in project management and supervisory consultancy services for the project.

He further explained that the appointment of an external consultant is to ensure that the DBO&T contract between the Government of Ghana and Messrs. Contracta Engenharia Ltd is well implemented according to the Contract Agreement to ensure proper supervision, value for money, achieve project target, maintenance period and guide the preparation of the 2nd phase.

The mayor, briefing members of the assembly on the three-phase project said the Government of Ghana has granted approval of the first phase of the project, while approval for the second and third phases is under consideration.

He  said the first phase, which is 77% complete, consists of the General infrastructure like Roads and Transport system, Drain system, Market infrastructure detailed as  Parking lot, Transport terminal and Community facilities.

It also has Market construction namely, the Technical, the stalls and circulation and metallic roofing.

Mayor Osei Assibey Antwi indicated that the project was facing legal, planning/design and other operational issues, preventing the project from achieving its target.

He mentioned project implementation challenges, which needed immediate attention as Court injunction in relation to the Technical Area, Transport Terminal, Parking and related issues, Registration and validation of traders, Operation and maintenance and Preparation activities towards phase 2 of the project.

He said the contractor is restrained from working on a portion of the site earmarked for installation of utility supplies and from working in the area that falls within 60 metres off the alleged disputed location, according to a Kumasi High Court ruling.

The KMA boss said when completed, the Kejetia project could accommodate about 108 “trotro” vehicles and that, because there was a limitation of height 3.5 metres of the ground level, the terminal cannot accommodate lorries/trucks or vehicles above 3.5 metres.

Also, the terminal made no provision for other vehicles for shoppers, including shop owners. He said the registration of traders at both the Kejetia Lorry Park and Kumasi Central Market has been completed and a report on the registration and the inventory has been duly submitted to KMA, except the validation of the owners.

Meanwhile, the mayor has disclosed that the contractor has expressed interest in the operation and maintenance of the Kejetia Terminal/Market on completion, which he said is permissible under the terms of the contract.

The MCE also said preparatory activities towards phase 2 of the project per the  joint Memorandum to Parliament  indicates that the 2nd and 3rd phases of the project will start shortly after the completion of the 1st phase, using the income from the1st phase to support the Government’s contribution.

According to the mayor, if the project becomes functional, economic benefits to be derived from it will include availability of around10,000 stores for more than 60,000 people and that the revenue to be generated from its operation will allow for the execution of the two remaining phases with a total of 15,000 stores.

He said the completion of the project will also ease the traffic jam and thus allow the thousands of shops and other businesses in the area to develop while the construction of a parking lot and a

bus terminal will also provide for a well-organised mass transport system in this densely-populated area.

Osei Assibey Antwi said the transport terminal as designed now can hold only 110 vehicles and  due to the limited height clearance of3.90 meters, the terminal cannot accommodate lorries/trucks/ vehicles above this height.

The mayor has, therefore, implored the Assembly to consider the possibility of providing space for the construction of a multi-storey car park to cater for the needs of the shop owners, shoppers as well as the general public.

The post Completion Of Kejetia Project Extended By 6 Months appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi Completion of the redevelopment of the Kejetia Lorry Terminal project has been rescheduled for July next year. The project, being executed by Messrs. Contracta Engenharia Ltd from Brazil, on a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBO&T) at an estimated cost of US$259,425,000 and started on July 14, 2015 to be […]

The post Completion Of Kejetia Project Extended By 6 Months appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.

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