The Kumasi City Market, commonly known as the New Kejetia Market, has been disconnected from the power grid by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) due to unpaid arrears exceeding GH¢7 million.
Despite a previous agreement to settle the debt, ECG claims the market has failed to adhere to the agreed payment plan, prompting the disconnection.
This isn’t the first time the market has faced such an issue. In April 2024, the market experienced a similar power outage, which was resolved after management committed to clearing the debt. A payment plan was subsequently established, but ECG insists that the market’s management has not fulfilled their obligations.
Edmond Kofi Duffuor, the Managing Director of the market, argues that they have made significant payments towards the debt, though ECG remains dissatisfied.
“From a total of 9.7 million Ghana cedis as of June, we have paid about 1.7 million Ghana cedis… So why should we be in darkness when we are committed? I’m not paying any other service provider any money. No other person is receiving money from Kejetia Market apart from ECG,” he stated.
With the market now relying on generators, which management considers unsustainable due to the high cost of diesel, traders are urging the Local Government Ministry to step in and resolve the electricity supply issue to ensure the market’s smooth operation.
