The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo, yesterday cut the sod for work to begin on a new market for Anaafo in Cape Coast.
The new two-storey market would have 236 stores, stalls and halls for trading and other business areas, including restaurants.
The project, to be executed by Fine Job Company Limited, is expected to be completed within 12 months.
The facility, which would be funded by the Coastal Development Authority (CDA), replaces the old dilapidated Anaafo Market.
Old marke
The old market, the first to be built in Cape Coast, had not been rehabilitated in years and had poor sanitary facilities.
The roof of the stores had been ripped off, drains were often choked and the market flooded after heavy rains.
The old market was pulled down over the weekend to pave the way for the construction of the new market.
The Chief Executive Officer of the CDA, Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib, in his address, said the market was being constructed under its Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme and with support from the ‘one million, one constituency initiative’.
He said although the project would cost more than the GH¢1 million pledged for each constituency under the initiative, the project would be executed with intervention from the presidency.
Mr Shaib said labourers for the project would be taken from the locality to help provide some jobs for the indigenes.
Credit union
He said the CDA had established a credit union for small and medium scale entrepreneurs to help them to expand their business and improve on their living conditions.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Cape Coast, Mr Ernest Arthur, said the government would continue to work to provide the needed infrastructure to better the lives of the people and that it was important to get the women to do business in a more hygienic environment.
He said the CDA had also renovated the town hall, the Victoria Park and was also working on the sea defence in Cape Coast and called on the people to support the government by giving it another term.
Vacate site
The Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, urged residents to cooperate with the contractors when work began on the project.
He further urged vacation of the project site to avoid injuries during the rehabilitation.
