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A multi-million dollar shopping centre, geared towards promoting business and boosting the economy of Kumasi and environs, is to be constructed at the Suame roundabout.

The Methodist Church Ghana has released a 13.8-acre land for the construction of the one-stop retail shopping centre to be called Garden City Mall, and expected to give employment to over 1,200 people on completion.

The about 20,000 square metre mall, will be the second modern shopping centre in Ghana after the West Hills Mall in Accra.

Funding is being provided by Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) 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 the 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, making the total cost of the project US$130-million.

Launching the project, Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted in an address read for him by Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah, Asokore-Mamponghene that, it would significantly assist to reduce the congestion at the central business district and bring relief to shoppers.

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