The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo has cut the sod for work to commence on a new market for Anaafo in Cape Coast, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

The new two-storey market, expected to be completed within 12 months would have 236 stores, stores and halls for trading and other business areas, including restaurants.

The project is going to be executed by Fine Job Company Limited.

The facility, which would be funded by the Coastal Development Authority (CDA), will replace the old dilapidated Anaafo Market.

The old market is currently in poor condition, as the facility has not been rehabilitated in years.

The roof of the stores had been ripped off, drains were often choked and the market flooded after heavy rains.

The old market was pulled down over the weekend to pave the way for the construction of the new market.

The Chief Executive Officer of the CDA, Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib, in his address, said the project is being executed under its Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme and with support from the government’s ‘one million, one constituency’ initiative.

He said although the project would cost more than the GH¢1 million pledged for each constituency under the initiative, the project would be executed with intervention from the presidency.

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Mr Shaib added that, to provide jobs for indigenes, laborers for the project would be taken from the locality.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Cape Coast, Mr Ernest Arthur, said the government would continue to work to provide the needed infrastructure to better the lives of the people and that it was important to get the women to do business in a more hygienic environment.

He said the CDA had also renovated the town hall, the Victoria Park and was also working on the sea defence in Cape Coast and called on the people to support the government by giving it another term.

The Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, urged residents to cooperate with the contractors when work began on the project.

He further urged vacation of the project site to avoid injuries during the rehabilitation.