Kejetia Market Traders Have Not Signed Tenancy Agreements, Says Managing Director
The Managing Director of Kumasi City Market, Mr Kofi Duffour, has indicated that none of the traders at the new Kejetia Market has signed a tenancy agreement.
Although formal tenancy agreements have not been signed, he emphasised in an interview on Nkwantannanso on June 13 that, the traders are still considered tenants based on an implied agreement and understanding.
Efforts have been made by the market management to have the traders sign tenancy agreements, but these attempts have been met with little success. The traders often request to have their lawyers review the agreements before signing.
“There was political pressure for the market to be opened, which led to a lack of documentation. The management board has been working diligently for almost five years to encourage traders to sign tenancy agreements, but so far, no significant progress has been made.”
“We can’t force it on them because they may not sign it,” Mr Duffour explained.
Furthermore, he said that all the shops in the market are rented, and no individual has the right to sell their shop.
“At the market, no one owns a shop. All the shops are rented, and traders are tenants whose rental agreements expire after five years,” he stated.
The Kejetia Market is the largest single market in West Africa. The first phase of the Kejetia Market started in 2015 and it was completed in 2018.
