The New Juaben Municipal Assembly has awarded a contract for the construction of a modern beads' market at the premises of the Centre for National Culture (CNC) at Koforidua to boost the beads trade in the region.
The completion of this market facility would end years of frustration and plight of the traders who for lack of space had to trade on Thursdays only at the Koforidua Jackson's Park at the mercy of the weather.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Alex Asamoah who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said, the contractor, Sir Jugat limited had since stared work and is scheduled to complete the project in eight months.
He said the contract sum was Gh246, 865.82 and it included the provision of 120 market sheds, a warehouse and a 10-seater water closet toilet facility.
Traders from all parts of the region especially from the "home of beads" Somanya, on Thursdays converged at the Jackson's Park to sell their wares to customers from all parts of the country.
The Eastern Beads Sellers Association since 2004 started agitating for a location to enable them trade on a daily basis instead of the "Thursdays only" made a passionate request to the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to relocate them at the CNC.
Last year, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, after visiting the market at the Jackson's Park directed the Municipal Assembly to grant the request of the association.
The secretary of the Beads Sellers Association, Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed in a chat with GNA, expressed gratitude to the assembly for granting their request for a permanent market place at the CNC.
He told GNA that the association has seen the implementation of the project and expressed the hope that the scheduled period for completion which is April next year would not be compromised.