The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has hailed the Methodist Church for the construction of its landmark US$130 million Garden City Mall to promote business and boost the economy of Kumasi.

The project sited on a 13.8 acre land at the Suame Roundabout would give employment to about 1,200 people on completion.

Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) is providing the funding with some support from Retail and Reality Limited, a business consortium and the Asanteman Council.

The job has been awarded to Consar Construction Limited and is being implemented in two phases.

Phase one, comprising a shopping mall, cinema and water park, is expected to be ready by December, next year.

The next and final phase would involve the construction of a-nine-storey-200-bed hotel facility, offices and restaurants.

The Asantehene noted in an address read for him by Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah, the Asokore-Mamponghene at the official launch of the project that, it would significantly assist to reduce the congestion at the Central Business District and bring relief to shoppers.

He said he also found it refreshing, the direct employment it would provide for the people and the change in the skyline of the nation’s second largest city.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu advocated stronger partnerships between business entities and the church through investment in economically viable ventures to transform the lives of the people.

Mr. Alex Bruks, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Garden City Mall, said they would do everything to ensure that construction timelines were met.

The Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante, the Presiding Bishop, said the project tied in with the church’s new direction of harnessing its resources to promote social economic growth and had taken action to develop all its acquired lands.

Mr. Kojo Bonsu, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), urged the residents to support projects meant to stimulate economic progress and beautify the landscape of the metropolis.