The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) has held a stakeholder consultation with shop owners at the Central Business District (CBD) to deliberate on its 2026 fee-fixing resolution.
Addressing the traders, the Assembly’s Head of Budget, Madam Edna Arkoh, outlined the need to review shop rates, citing a major renovation exercise scheduled for next year. She explained that the facelift will cover all major repairs at the market, while traders will be responsible for minor maintenance works.
Madam Arkoh further disclosed that starting October 1, 2025, the Assembly will embark on a data collection exercise to streamline shop ownership documentation. The process, she noted, will ensure proper records for both the Assembly and traders. A new tenancy agreement for shop owners was also announced.
Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Faustilove Appiah Kannin, emphasized that fees paid by traders form a vital part of the Assembly’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF), which are crucial for development in Obuasi. She urged the traders to accept the increment in good faith, pointing out that current rates are inadequate to support the facelift envisaged for the CBD.
The traders, however, requested more time to review the proposals, particularly the rate adjustments. The Assembly granted them one week to provide their official response.
Earlier, the Municipal Engineer, Mr. David Adjei, sensitized shop owners on basic safety measures, stressing the importance of installing fire extinguishers in all shops. He also encouraged traders to seek technical advice from the Assembly before carrying out any renovations.
Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Anthony Kwenin, commended the traders for their cooperation and assured them that their concerns would be incorporated into the final fee-fixing document. The consultation was held in four groups, covering Santiago, Central Market A & B, and Horsey Park.
Story by
Ernest Kofi Offen
Municipal Information Officer
ISD, Obuasi