NADMO DECLARES NEW KEJETIA COMPLEX SAFE FOR BUSINESS

The National Disaster Management Organization, NADMO, has declared the newly built Kejetia Terminal Complex as very safe for business. What is now left is the issuance of a Safety Certificate anytime from now to empower the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, KMA, to open the facility for business. 

This was the verdict of the Director General of the NADMO, Mr. Eric Agyemang Prempeh, after he led a Technical Team of the Organization to evaluate the safety readiness of the facility in Kumasi for operations.

The Project

Construction of the Kejetia Terminal Complex began in November 2015 as the first phase of a comprehensive Kumasi Central Market Redevelopment and was scheduled for completion in two years. The deadline has however delayed for more than a year due an initial resistance by occupants of the old terminal as well as litigation over a portion of the land. The intervention of the Manhyia Palace however helped to clear the hurdle for the construction to get to its current stage making it almost ready for business. 

The Evaluation

As a key requirement for operation of any public facility in the country, the National Disaster Management Organization, NADMO, had to ensure that the 198 million Dollar social project meets safety standard before it could open to members of the public. 

Led by its Director General, Mr. Eric Agyemang Prempeh, the Technical Team of the NADMO, visited the project site and was conducted around the entire facility to assess measures put in place to guarantee the safety and security of all the prospective patrons and users when it eventually opens for business. 

It came to light that the project, being executed by Contracta Engineering Company, a Brazilian construction firm, has 67 fire hydrants, a 100 thousand litre water storage for fire-fighting alone, 12 thousand water sprinkling gadgets to cater for excessive heat or fire outbreak, 10 smoke detectors, 350 fire extinguishers, an emergency Operational Centre, a Technical Area, a Police Post with two holding Cells for females and males, a modern Clinic and a Fire Service Station.

 The Production Manager for the construction firm, Ingneer Alan Frazeto, took the NADMO Team through other safety and security measures in place.

"The first response from Police or Fire Service to fight fires. All smoke Detectors around the market, they send the signals to the Control Room and from here, we can fight the problem with the hydrants and also sprinklers. We have fire 350 extinguishers all around the market for the first combat. The Fire Brigade will be here all the time to support any fire outbreak", Ingineer Frazeto assured. 

Speaking to Journalists after the evaluation exercise, the NADMO Director General, Mr. Eric Agyemang Prempeh, noted that, the Team’s expectation had been exceeded and therefore declared the Terminal Complex safe to begin business.

He noted "I can say on authority, that after doing this assessment, as the Disaster Manager in the Country, I am really impressed with the kind of measures they have put in place....they have enough Exits, the sprinklers...In fact I can say it is up to international standards that a lot of measures have been put in place and that the Market can be opened to the public for business."