The Ghana Trade Fair Ltd has announced a “masterplan” to construct “a multipurpose modern facility with multifunctional halls” at the Trade Fair Centre, La, Accra.

According to CEO Agnes Adu, the real estate will have a convention hall, hotel, retail mall, rentable areas, an amusement space, data centre, and, among other things, it will house the permanent headquarters for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

These “core facilities,” she said will help the Trade Fair fulfil its mandate of “trade promotion and trade facilitation through fairs and exhibitions”.

Dr Agnes Adu described the ambitious project during a Channel One TV interview, noting in 2020, a masterplan was drawn, with approval secured from cabinet and the company’s board of directors.

“We’re building the major convention centre in Ghana,” she said.

“The building footprint sits on about 20,000 square metres of indoor space, properly serviced, air-conditioned – just as the O2 Arena [in London] or Jarvis Centre in New York. When you come to Accra, there’ll be such a convention centre here.”

She revealed, the exhibition hall or convention centre floor envisioned measured 10,000 square metres.

“Up to about 30,000 people can be housed for a concert in a standing room,” she indicated.

“With tables, chairs, you could sit about 15 to 20,000 people.”

The lobby area, Dr Adu went on, “measures about 5,000 square metres or so” to allow for free movement of guests even before they go into the convention hall.

“The lobby will have restaurants, gift shops vending made-in-Ghana products, forex bureaus,” she said.

The Trade Fair CEO spoke about a back house for storage, also.

Providing more details, she said the flat convention hall will allow for riding into or car shows because unlike the archaic designs which had permanent chairs, this facility will be open, allowing for creativity to fit multiple purposes and events.

In partnership with the private sector, Dr Agnes Adu indicated, a hotel will be on the Trade Fair grounds to accommodate guests of long conventions.

She said a private developer was working on establishing and operationalising a data centre on the facility in tandem with technological advancement.

To show commitment to the daring project which she said had eluded even the country’s first president, and his successors, Dr Agnes Adu said, “What we’re building right now is the exhibition and convention centres.”

Furthermore, she revealed the “biggest challenge” to the reimagined Ghana Trade Fair Centre was moving was moving “delinquent” tenants out for the “master plan can be implemented”.  

“It took almost three years going through the courts” and overcoming “resistance,” she emphasised.