Kumasi market redevelopment delays and resumption

In late August 2026, Ghana’s Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mahama Ayariga, inspected the stalled Kejetia Phase II and Krofrom Market projects in Kumasi. The Kejetia Phase II project has been halted for over three years despite being approximately 70 per cent complete, while the Krofrom Market project has faced delays for over a decade due to irregular funding. These delays have resulted in commercial congestion, forcing traders into streets and onto pavements.

By late September 2026, Kumasi Mayor Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi announced that construction on the second phase of the Kejetia Market redevelopment is scheduled to resume in October. This announcement followed stakeholder engagements with traders and the Minister. The mayor stated that funding for the project’s completion has been secured, with plans to use revenue from completed phases to sustain the remaining stages of the three-phase redevelopment plan. Project consultants report the redevelopment is currently at 68 per cent overall completion.

Recent reports indicate that the project has faced significant delays due to rising construction costs and Ghana’s broader debt situation, including the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. To address funding shortages, the government is exploring a model where traders pay market value for stalls to help finance the project's completion. Officials noted that while the original €248 million contract was signed in 2018, current available funds may not cover the entire original design.

Furthermore, Minister Ayariga reported financial irregularities in Phase One, noting that some shop owners are subletting spaces at rates between GH¢100,000 and GH¢120,000, far exceeding the original GH¢25,000 premium. Mayor Boadi has warned traders against fraudulent individuals claiming to secure shop allocations, urging the use of official channels for all transactions.