Ghana Trade Fair site left to rot

The lack of maintenance culture is the major reason why the country is losing also all the major edifices built by its first president. More than 50 years after it was constructed, Charles Benoni Okine reports about the state of Ghana’s foremost trade fair centre.

The Ghana Trade Fair Centre, the once magnificent edifice meant to host major local and international fairs has been left to rot, a situation which makes it unattractive and safe to host any major fair or exhibition.

Built some five decades ago, the Centre, which is placed in the care of the Ghana Trade Fair Company under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, was meant to be a site to showcase the works of industrialists in the country as part of efforts to promote made-in-Ghana goods as well as serve as a platform for other countries, mostly from the sub-region to exhibit their products and services to promote the sub regional integration agenda.

State of structures

The roofs of the main two main pavilions (A/B) right after the entrance of the Centre are virtually coming off making it virtually impossible to host any major event, particularly during the rainy season as the slightest rain will cause major disruption.

Individuals or organisations which intend to use the facilities as they are would have to pay GhC1,500 per day to use the empty stuff place which has no rest rooms because the old structures to be washrooms are in a sorry-state.

Again, the wooden structures erected around those two pavilions to accommodate mainly small exhibitors such as traders in handicraft and members of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) are also rotting off because of lack of painting to hold the structures together and prevent the attacks of termites among other things.

To the left after entering from the main gate, a new pavilion still under construction which was meant to be used as an ICT Centre has been permanently converted into a mini supermarket owned by a company by name Rice and Sugar.

Earlier, that pavilion was used by one of the mushrooming churches in the city that is in the business of renting any available space to assemble a congregation.

The administration block which has a number of conference rooms have all been abandoned leaving the rooms stuffy and dusty and unattractive to host any meaningful event as was the case some years back.

At the round pavilion of Pavilion F, the situation is even worse as the roofs are all falling apart. There are also major cracks on the walls, making it unsafe to accommodate exhibitors.

Around that pavilion is a pond that was used as recreation to ferry children in mini boats around the pavilion.

Today the pond which has been neglected for many years has collected rain water over the years to become a major breeding place for mosquitoes which make life in the evening around the Centre uncomfortable.

Some of the abandoned structures around the round pavilion are either being inhabited by squatters or taken over by bushes full of reptiles.

Most of the road networks at the back of the rear of the Centre are in deplorable state and water easily collects around the areas which have been turned into huge refuse dump where waste of all kinds is dumped and burnt intermittently.

The children’s park area, which served as a recreational ground for kids is also overgrown in weeds.

The green grass around the place has given way to weeds while some of the structures meant for entertainment have been taken over by squatters and wee smokers.

Major fairs

Once upon a time, the Centre was used to host many grand exhibitions including the famous Industrial and Technology (INDUTECH) Fair; Ghana Industry and Furniture Exhibition (GIFEX), Grand Sales and many other mini fairs.

Internationally, it was the venue for the ECOWAS Trade Fair where industrialists and traders and business people from all over the sub-region converged to exhibit their products and services.

As part of the national day celebrations of some countries in Ghana, they rented the Centre to hold exhibitions where they showcased their products and services to Ghanaians and key among them were the Turkish, Chinese and those from the Arab world.

These exhibitions became a part of the country’s major event calendar and attracted thousands of people from all walks of life.

Rehabilitation

When reached for his comments, the acting Chief Executive of the Centre was not available but sources at the sector ministry revealed that, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has made overtures to the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF) to release some funds to begin a rehabilitation exercise of the Centre in preparation for the upcoming ECOWAS Trade Fair in October.

Meanwhile, there are plans on the table to embark on a massive redevelopment of the Centre later this year.
The project is aimed at raising the image of the Trade Fair Centre to International standards to enable Ghana to attract more exhibitors to future fairs.
The first phase of the project on paper will involve the construction of new pavilions, fully air-conditioned with state-of-the-art facilities; five star hotels among other facilities to bring the Centre to international standard.

A company, Pierse-CFC, an Irish company, which was given the contract to do an evaluation of what the new-look Centre will be like has since last year submitted its report.

Land litigation

Also hanging on the necks of the company part from the challenges of the Centre is a heavy land compensation of about US$23 million being demanded by the La stool owners.

According to the La people, since the then first President took over the site, no compensation has been paid, an issue that might stall efforts to develop the site to the fullest because of the litigation.

Facts sheet

Major fairs

-         The Ghana International Trade Fair Centre was constructed by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah more than 50 years ago.

-         Once upon a time, the Centre was used to host many grand exhibitions including the famous Industrial and Technology (INDUTECH) Fair; Ghana Industry and Furniture Exhibition (GIFEX), Grand Sales and many other mini fairs.  

-         Internationally, it was the venue for the ECOWAS Trade Fair where industrialists and traders and business people from all over the sub-region converged to exhibit their products and services.

-         As part of the national day celebrations of some countries in Ghana, they rented the Centre to hold exhibitions where they showcased their products and services to Ghanaians and key among them were the Turkish, Chinese and those from the Arab world.

-         These exhibitions became a part of the country’s major event calendar and attracted thousands of people from all walks of life.