Ashanti Region: Kejetia Market hit by power cut, pressure mounts for management shake-up
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has justified its decision to disconnect power to the Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region, citing the market's failure to adhere to a payment plan for its outstanding debts
The Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region has once again been plunged into darkness due to an outstanding debt of GHC2.4 million owed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The power cut, which took effect on Monday (12 August), comes after numerous warnings to settle the arrears. The disconnection has severely disrupted market operations, leading to a standoff between traders and the Kumasi City Market, managers of the facility.
Traders and vendors are now calling for a major overhaul of the Kofi Duffour-led management team describing it as incompetent.
Asaase News gathers that the traders’ leadership plans to petition relevant institutions including the office of the Asantehene to address the debt issue and restore power to the trading hub.
“This managing director is the problem. He must go. Since this market was established, I have been paying outrageous bills. Every time he is on our neck, chasing us for bills but now we have been disconnected. This will adversely affect my business. The situation is making us scared because when the lights are off, some criminal elements will take advantage, and the heat is also unbearable”, one trader said.
“I must say the situation will only get worse. Electricity forms a vital part of what we do here and that is the only problem we face here. Management has not been fair to us and I think that I support the call that the MD must go”, another trader added.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has justified its decision to disconnect power to the Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region, citing the market’s failure to adhere to a payment plan for its outstanding debts.
According to an ECG spokesperson in the Ashanti West Region, Benjamin Obeng Antwi, the market management has defaulted on payments for the months, accumulating a debt of GHC2.3 million. Despite several attempts to engage with the market management and provide ample time for repayment, the company’s efforts were unsuccessful.
“It was only last Friday that they came to pay GHC400,000, but they should have cleared their arrears by 25th July before starting to service their July bills,” Antwi explained. He added that the July bill, which has yet to be included, is not part of the existing GHC2.3 million debt.
The ECG official expressed frustration over the frequent defaults, noting that despite ongoing engagements, the market management has not met its financial obligations. The company emphasiSed that the power cut was a necessary action to enforce compliance and ensure that debts are settled promptly.
Officials at the Kumasi City Market were not available for comments.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi.
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