Traders at the Kejetia market have voiced dissatisfaction with the facility’s administration for what they characterize as a lax approach to resolving individual metering concerns at the market.
The vendors have been pushing for separate meters for years, but they claim management has been indecisive and sluggish to respond.
They claim that this is hurting their companies by forcing them to pay exorbitant power rates.
To push management to act, the traders have stated that they will begin wearing red bands on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
They’ve also vowed a large protest if their demands aren’t honored by Monday, September 11, 2023.
Nana Akwasi Prempeh, President of the Federation of Kumasi Traders, told Citi Business News, “During the last PURC review, before the September review, the May one, we were paying light bills around GH640,000 a month when the July review came, it shot up to GH776,000 a month.” So you’ve noticed a significant increase in your light bill. It had a direct impact on the merchants. When ECG informs us they have meters, what is management doing, or what is blocking management from undertaking the separation work for everyone to have their own meter? It leads us to believe that someone is profiting in some way.”
He added, “We cannot sit down unconcerned. When we are not able to pay the bills, management locks up about 200 to 300 shops every blessed day because of the light bills. Management will not lock up anybody’s shop again if we have our own separate meters. Beginning tomorrow, September 5, we are hoisting red bands around the market and our shops, to signify our intent to management. After that, if need be, we will tell management to close the market, because we cannot continue to incur losses. We will use all the necessary forces to pursue that agenda. If need be we will do a demonstration.”
The traders have also voiced dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the facility’s board, and management for their failure to publish the content of the committee’s study nearly six months after a portion of the market was damaged by fire.
They have also faulted the government for the delay in acting on the committee’s recommendations.
Nathaniel Boamponsem, a representative for the impacted merchants, voiced his dissatisfaction to Citi Business News and asked the authorities to intervene.
“It’s been almost six months and we have not heard anything from anybody. We met with the committee, and we heard that the report is out, but we are not privy to the report. They even said they were going to get us a place in the meantime, but nothing has been done. We are still at home and not working. The little capital we have, we are depending on it, and there is a big problem.
“We are totally disappointed at every process at every level. As of now, all hope is lost. We are just looking forward to God for his help. We are pleading that they make the recommendations or report public.”
