Ghana gets a taste of Mall culture

Accra’s landscape is due to change for the better in a few months when the ultra modern and one of the largest and most modern shopping malls in West Africa is completed.

Though expected to worsen the traffic situation on the Spintex Road, which links the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, the 20,000 sq metres Accra Mall will be the first modern shopping centre in Ghana.

Designed by South African company, Bentel Associates International (BAI), the multi-purpose mall which is along the Spintex Road, near the Tetteh Quarshie traffic circle in Accra will be completed in December with business expected to commence in January of next year.

Game stores, one of Africa’s largest discount retailers, who are one of two anchor tenants that will operate from the mall, will open their stores in March 2007 and according to the retail store, an estimated US$87.8 million will be invested in the Ghanaian economy over the next ten years.

The mall is been developed by Actis, the management arm of a leading private equity investor in emerging markets, CDC Capital Partners.

Actis has been involved in a number of developments in other African countries, including the Lagos Palms, which is the first world class shopping centre in Nigeria. It was opened in February this year.

Due to the slope of the site, the centre has a lower level showroom area facing directly the Spintex road, while the main retail floor above is served by two modern entrances off a paved parking area. The second level, off the food court situated centrally to the design, houses a cinema complex.

The centre will have its own water treatment facility for waste water as well as backup generator, power. Since the centre is located in an earthquake zone, the engineers have had to ensure that the design encompasses all earthquake zone requirements.

According to managers of the facility, maintenance of the property is very important to them. All mechanical and electrical requirements of the centre have been designed to be as energy and maintenance-efficient as possible.

The mall, with 19,700 sq meters of retail space, will accommodate retail, food and service outlets and an 800 bay car park.

South African retailers Game and Shoprite Checkers are the anchor tenants.