Adenta Shopping Mall inaugurated
MMC Property Management Ltd, formerly Makola Market Company Ltd, a SSNIT subsidiary and owners and managers of the Makola Shopping Mall and the Makola No.2 Market, Agbogbloshie, last Thursday, November 10, 2011 inaugurated the multi-purpose Adenta Shopping Centre—a latest addition to the company’s portfolio.
Located within the Adenta Estates, the Adenta Shopping Centre is equipped with facilities such as a bank, clinic, an insurance company, supermarket, restaurants, drinking bar, bakery, cold stores, a meat shop and a variety of other shops, lockable stalls, retail units (farmers market), warehouses, offices, children’s playground, a Police Station, a Fire Station, a spacious car park and a lorry station.
Speaking at the inauguration on behalf of President J.E.A Mills, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Hannah Tetteh expressed delight at the foresight and investments made in the shopping centre stating that “an efficient functioning market system is vital in the quest for the country’s attainment of middle income status”.
According to her, the increasing population in Accra, along with its resultant effects such as strain on the city’s social infrastructure and unbearable traffic congestions contribute significantly to loss of man hours and productivity. Hence this makes the Adenta Shopping Centre an ideal shopping facility for residents of Adenta and its environs because they won’t have to go through the hustle of travelling to the city centre for market activities.
The Honourable Minister also unveiled plans by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to protect the Ghanaian Consumer. These plans include promoting the use of weights and measures in the markets to ensure uniformity in the sale of products; ensuring that products are well labeled to inform and make consumers aware of the contents, date marks and producer or manufacturer of products; ensuring acceptable hygienic and sanitary conditions at distributions, sellers’ points as well as areas where food is sold to the general public and conducting regular medical examination of handlers of food to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
The Honourable Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Adentan Municipal Assembly Nubyl Kakra Vanlare who was particularly excited at the 24-hour security at the shopping centre admonished tenants of the shopping centre to “maintain discipline…in trading arrangements” at the shopping centre, saying the Assembly “will give all the support necessary to make the [Adenta Shopping Centre] an attractive shopping mall” reflecting traditional market environment as well.
The General Manager of MMC Property Management Ltd, Mrs Rose Margeret Kpodo, who gave the welcome address, was thankful for the support of the Management of SSNIT, the Adentan Municipal Assembly, MMC Board of Directors and the tenants for their support towards the level of success the Shopping Centre has achieved so far. She empahised the philosophy of the MMC Property Management Ltd which, according to her, was “to help people create wealth”.
As at 2008, the market value of Makola Market Company Ltd (now MMC Property Management Ltd) stood at GH¢23,988,600, hence with the addition of the Adenta Shopping Centre the value is sure to be even bigger. The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) are the two shareholders of the Adenta Shopping Centre with 90% and 10% respectively.
The original concept for the market was to develop a sheltered area where vendors and customers can do business in a congenial atmosphere. The project commenced in August 2000 with the development of a sheltered market area for foodstuffs, chop bars, car park, refuse disposal area, public washrooms and security post. However in 2003, MMC Property Management Ltd took over the project and upgraded the facility. The whole project was completed in 2007.
Also present at the inauguration ceremony was Nii Okataban III, Adentan Mantse, dignitaries from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and MMC Property Management Ltd, among others.
By George Nyavor