Samira Bawumia being assisted to cut the tape to open the mall
The Second Lady, Hajia Samira Bawumia, yesterday cut the tape to officially open phase one of the newly constructed Takoradi Shopping Mall, the first modern shopping mall in the Western Region.
The grand opening ceremony was also attended by ministers of state and some government officials.
They included the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Robert Ahomka-Lindsay, Papa Owusu Ankomah, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), the Western Regional Minister and his deputy, as well as member of the Council of State, Alberta Cudjoe.
The $66 million project, which is owned by the Takoradi Shopping Mall Limited, is situated on a 21-acre land at West Tanokrom in the Effia Constituency in the Western Region.
Apart from the jobs that would be generated for the people, the people in the Sekondi-Takoradi and beyond can now buy basic goods and luxury ones under one roof.
Phase one of the project, which cost $40 million, consists of 11,000 square meter floor space with 74 stores.
It also has 1,000 square meters of office space and a 375 square metre parking space.
Phase two of the project would comprise the development of a nine acre land into multi-purpose entertainment venues designed to be a one-stop-shop for entertainment in the Western Region.
The mall is expected to provide over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs to people in Ghana.
Hajia Samira Bawumia commended the brain behind the project, Africanus Mensah, a Ghanaian petrol chemical engineer for the initiative, which would help boost economic activities in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.
She indicated that the current government has created the enabling environment for businesses to grow, adding “we urge the private sector to take advantage and invest in the economy.”
Mrs Bawumia said that the mall was built at a strategic place and admonished the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to partner the authorities at the mall and provide the necessary assistance to ensure that the residents in the area benefit from the project.
Mr. Mensah disclosed that the company would adhere to the local content policy being implemented by the government.
He gave assurance that the majority of the workers who would manage the mall would recruited locally.
Mr Mensah mentioned that all fresh fruits and vegetables stocked by Shoprite would be purchased from local farmers, adding “this would also boost local production.”
As part of the grand opening, there were discount sales and a shopping bazaar.
Artisans Protest
The opening of the mall was nearly marred by some aggrieved artisans who used to operate at the location of the mall.
They held placards with the inscriptions such as “Shoprite Stop this injustice or you will pay for it one day,” “Africanus Mensa, you have not treated us as human beings and “Shoprite is condoning abuse of human rights,” among others, to protest against the alleged non-payment of compensation to them.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi