Work starts on West Africa’s biggest mall in Accra

Plans have reached an advanced stage for the construction of an ultramodern shopping mall in Accra.

Project partners, Delico Property Limited of Mauritius and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), are expected to fork out $93m to ensure the successful completion of the edifice by 2014.

Though construction is in its infant stages, industry players are hopeful that it could stage a strong claim for the country as far as trade in the sub-region is concerned since it will be the biggest shopping mall in West Africa.

These came to light when project partners visited the site at Dunkonah, near Weija with journalists on Thursday to obtain first hand information about the project.

Delico Property holds 60 per cent stake while SSNIT has 40 per cent shares in the project, officials have confirmed.

In an address, the Chairman of the Board of West Hills Mall, Kofi Sekyere, divulged that upon completion could house about 65 businesses including recreational facilities.

He added that about 300 local workers and five local sub-contractors have been engaged to ensure the successful completion of the project.

“Delico and its partners are determined to ensure that all stakeholders, notably the Ghanaian public and the media, have a full appreciation of what the project is about and the socio-economic prospects it holds, not only for the city of Accra but also the entire country,” he added.

On his part, the architect for the project, Augustus Richardson, said with a parking bay capacity of 1,400 cars, the mall was about 30 per cent bigger than any existing mall in the country.

He added that a special traffic interchange and pedestrian underpass would be constructed across the highway to ensure free flow of traffic.