Mr Robert Agbevem

The Kaneshie Market Complex was built in the 1970s under General Kutu Acheampong’s regime. But the idea for the establishment of the market was conceived under Busia’s administration in 1969.

It remains one of the oldest trading centres in the capital, Accra. Occupying a vast landscape, the centre is home to over 10,000 businessmen and women dealing in a wide range of merchandise.

With over 40 years in existence, the market has evolved and continues to impact livelihoods while contributing to domestic revenue generation.

Though its growth has not been all rosy, part of its success story is attributed to the robust management and corporate governance structures put in place since its inception.

The centre last Thursday hosted the maiden edition of The Spectator Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign led by the New Times Corporation (NTC), where hundreds of traders, mostly women, were screened and sensitised to the disease which continues to claim lives worldwide.

In the spirit of camaraderie and togetherness, we caught up with Mr Robert Agbevem, the Deputy Managing Director of the company, who spoke about operations of the facility as well as some plans to enhance the status of the market which would continue to make it the most preferred trading destination.

The Kaneshie Market Complex has about 150 permanent and non-permanent members of staff. Mr Agbevem, together with other superiors and staff members, is responsible for renting shops within the complex in addition to supervising parking spaces, the main lorry terminal and adjoining markets.

Business

In spite of its longevity, the Deputy Managing Director admits that activities at the market have not been promoted well enough hence efforts to draw attention to the serious business that takes place daily within the complex.

Acknowledging the general impact of COVID-19 on businesses, he noted that things were bouncing back gradually and managers were doing more to ensure the facility operated at full capacity “as it was in previous years.”

Mr Agbevem said patronage of the centre was not “as encouraging as expected because many traders had resorted to doing business outside the main market complex.”

He said the cost of doing business or renting shops at the market was relatively cheap compared with other market centres in the city.

Explaining measures to help traders within the space save cost on electricity, he said the Management was in partnership with the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) to ensure every shop within the market had its designated prepaid meter.

“There are lots of vacant shops up for rent at the market. Management intends using the second floor of the complex as a hub for fashion designers as there are a lot of them doing business here.

“Seamstresses and tailors who need places to operate should not look far. Our market has all they need to operate without challenges,” he noted.

Safety

The market complex, according to Mr Agbevem, is “the safest place to transact business” because personnel, as a result of constant supervision, are able to contain threats that emerge occasionally.

“Unlike other markets, we have our maintenance, security, human resource, and sanitation units. There is no time of the day or night that nobody mans the facility so even if people will clandestinely come to misbehave, they would be apprehended.

“We have personnel of the GNFS and our dedicated maintenance team housed inside the complex who ensure that as soon as there is any trace of smoke anywhere it is quickly attended to.

“Even when market women, in a haste to close and go home, leave their shops unattended to, our security personnel on night patrol are able to identify any lapses and are able to safeguard the property of the owners.

“All of these put together make the market a very safe place to transact business,” Mr Agbevem stated.

Challenges

Mr Agbevem further observed that refuse collection point at the market tended to serve the entire Kaneshie Sub-Metro as some residents deliberately dumped refuse generated from their nearby homes at the market. 

He said, the place was becoming cleaner as managers of the facility continued to collaborate with the necessary state agencies to ensure waste collection was done on time.

He added that the drainage systems within the market enclave were being improved by the Department of Urban Roads and Kaneshie Sub-Metro to ensure that the perennial floods which somewhat disrupted business was avoided.

Future plans

Touching on some future plans, Mr Agbevem explained that preparations were on course to redevelop the existing parking space at the market into a modern one.

“The space as it is now can have more shops erected. We are collaborating with some investors to take up that project so the Kaneshie Market becomes a viable and attractive centre to do business where we will have lots of shops and office spaces rented out for brisk business.

“Again, we want to light up the place such that we can have a 24-hour market. The night business goes on but it is not as it is in other jurisdictions,” he said.

He, therefore, called for further collaboration from stakeholders within the catchment area, stressing the need for citizens to patronise local produce by farmers and traders to help boost the economy.

Breast cancer awareness

Mr Agbevem described the breast cancer campaign led by NTC as a “laudable idea and a wonderful initiative,” considering the adverse effects of the disease but expressed optimism that the awareness would yield the necessary results.

While urging women to seek early treatment at the hospital instead of prayer camps, he said the government could consider increasing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) premium for high income earners to help support vulnerable women with breast cancer.

Background

Mr Agbevem, who hails from Adutor close to Sogakope in the Volta Region, is a Chartered Accountant and has served in different capacities at the Metro Mass Transit Limited for the past 13 years prior to joining the Kaneshie Market Complex Limited.

He describes his journey at the company as a “learning curve” as his duties currently are quite different from his previous work in the transport and construction industries.

He loves reading and farming and had taught briefly at Nsaba Secondary School in the Central Region prior to pursuing other interests.

By Ernest Nutsugah