A five-member committee has been formed by the Minister of State for Local Government and Rural Development designate, Osei Bonsu Amoah, to investigate the March 15 fire outbreak that destroyed part of the Kejetia market in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The committee inaugurated on Wednesday March 29, 2023, is chaired by Professor Theophilus Adjie-Kumi from the Department of Construction Technology and Management at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The other members of the committee are Francis Koffie, a private legal practitioner, Managing Director of Koffie and Partners Law Conclave, and Kofi Ampong, member and Valuer, Property Manager, and Real Estate consultant.
Also, Daniel Kwaku Denteh, member and Deputy Director General of the National Disaster Management Organization in charge of Finance and Administration as well as Emelia Ayebeng Botchway, member secretary and Ashanti regional coordinating director (ARCD) were assigned to support the committee.
Speaking after the inauguration, OB Amoah said the committee has only three weeks to investigate the cause of the fire and submit its findings thereby appealing to the traders to cooperate with them amicably.
He said public announcements would be made and persons who may have evidence or information to help the committee in its work would be welcomed.
Other persons who would be needed to help the committee would also be called by same to appear before it since we want to know and learn lessons from the outbreak and apply them to the uncompleted phase two of the market, he said.
‘’The committee has only three weeks to submit findings and recommendations after their investigations. Announcements would be made to the public for those who may have evidence or any useful information to appear before the committee to give same’’, Mr. Amoah stressed.
He said agitations from affected traders at the market are noted down and promised to be addressed but asked them to stay off the burnt area until the investigations are completed for them to make a decision based on the recommendations from the committee.
The Minister-designate said while the committee sits any member of the trading unions or associations who has any complaint or information about the recent fire would have the chance to appear before the same and say it.
‘’The Kejetia market does not belong to one single person and no one has the right to break in or forcefully enter where they are not supposed to go and as the committee commences its investigations anyone who has information or evidence regarding the recent fire can appear before it and talk to them’’, he stated.