Chinese Investors Resume China Mall Project in Koforidua Despite Stop Work Order
Construction on the China Mall project in Koforidua has resumed despite a stop work order issued by the Eastern Regional Minister, following an appeal by the New Juaben Omanhene and ongoing drainage remediation efforts.
Chinese investors behind the project restarted works after Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, intervened on their behalf. The Omanhene wrote to Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, formally requesting that construction be permitted to continue alongside corrective drainage works.
The letter, titled “Appeal for Urgent Approval to Continue Work on the China Mall Project with Parallel Drainage Remediation,” acknowledged the Regional Minister’s concerns over the drainage system behind the project site and the bridge serving as a major water channel. These concerns arose after recent flooding linked to the construction area.
Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III conceded that the flooding incident, which followed heavy rainfall, underscores the need for urgent technical intervention. However, he argued that halting the project entirely could have severe financial implications for the investors and for Koforidua’s economic prospects.
The investors told the Traditional Authority that the project is contractually time-bound and that delays are already attracting penalties. Construction materials delivered to the site are deteriorating, they said, while workers — including expatriate staff — continue to draw daily wages despite the suspension of productive work. Other operational and logistical expenses continue to mount.
The Omanhene proposed that construction proceed in parallel with drainage remediation works under the supervision of the appropriate technical agencies. He assured the Regional Minister that the Traditional Authority recognises the danger posed by the drainage challenge and remains committed to ensuring the system is properly fixed to allow free flow of rainwater without endangering residents, motorists and pedestrians.
The letter argued that allowing construction to continue alongside remedial works would help protect investor confidence in Koforidua and the Eastern Region more broadly, while demonstrating that environmental and safety standards can coexist with investment support.
Sources say the Regional Minister had not formally responded to the letter at the time of reporting. However, the Omanhene subsequently summoned both the Regional Minister and the Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben to the palace for a closed-door meeting on the matter.
The dispute highlights a recurring tension in Ghana’s urban development landscape: the collision between rapid foreign direct investment and local infrastructure capacity. Koforidua, like many secondary cities, is experiencing a construction boom that often outpaces the drainage and road networks designed for a smaller, less built-up environment. How authorities balance the economic promise of such projects against the immediate safety needs of residents will set a precedent for similar developments across the country.
Image Source: STARR FM
