KUKUO MARKET PROJECT STALLED (PAGE 18, NOV 5, 2010)

WORK on the Kukuo Market complex in Tamale, also known as the Golden Jubilee Market, has stalled. The situation has been attributed to lack of funds.
The GH¢4.595 million project was awarded on contract in December 2008 as part of the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and was expected to be completed in March this year.
A visit to the project site by the Daily Graphic showed no sign of construction work going on as workers of the China State Hualong Construction Company that is executing the project were not available for comments. So far the project is at the foundation level and there was no sign of construction equipment at the site. The Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) is supervising the project.
The market is strategically located at Kukuo that is arguably one of the sprawling suburbs of the metropolis. It is envisaged that the completion of the project will help ease congestion at the Aboabu and Tamale Central markets.
When completed, the project would have a public parking lot, 402 shops, butchers’ shop, sanitary facilities, access roads, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre, a bank, security lights, revenue collection points, waste disposal sites and fire service facilities.
The Northern Regional Consultant of the AESL, Mr Anthony Baissana, told the Daily Graphic that the shops had been grouped into type A, B and C with offices attached.
According to him, the project would have three storey buildings that would house all the 402 shops.
Meanwhile residents of Kukuo have expressed disappointment at the delay in the execution of the project. They observed that most of them wanted to take advantage of the opportunity offered them and go into business.
They pointed out that the area was expanding rapidly in terms of population and hoped the requisite funding would be sourced to ensure the completion of the project.
The Public Affairs Officer of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA), Mr Issah Musah, also stated that the Kukuo Market project was strategic as it would ultimately increase commercial activities in the metropolis.