The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Mr. Daniel Kwaku Botwe, has appointed a five-member committee of investigate the recent fire outbreak at the new Kejetia market in the Ashanti region.
The committee has tasked to Make a full, faithful and impartial inquiry into the circumstances of, and establish the facts leading to, the fire outbreak at the Kumasi Kejetia Market which occurred on March 15, 2023.
The committee is also mandated to inquire into the efficient operation, maintenance and management of the Kumasi Kejetia Market and give reasons for its findings and make recommendations with a view to preventing such disasters and ensuring efficient operation and management of the facility.
The committee is expected to conclude and submit its report to the Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development within three weeks.
The committee is being chaired by Professor Theophilus Adjei-Kumi, a lecturer at the Department of Construction Technology and Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The other members include: Francis Koffie, ESQ, Private legal Practitioner, Managing Director, M/S Koffie & Partners, Law Conclave, Kumasi, Mr. Kofi Ampong, Valuer/Property Manager, Real Estate Consultant, Mr. Daniel Kwaku Denteh, Deputy Director General of National Disaster Management Organization in charge of finance and administration and Mrs. Emelia Ayebeng Botchway, Secretary to the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Director.
Addressing Journalists, the Minister of State in-charge of Local Government, Osei Bonsu Amoah, said the committee will engage all relevant stakeholders to obtain the requisite information to enable their work.
He cautioned the traders and shop owners against taking the laws into their own hands, adding the safety of persons and the facility is paramount.
