Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has cut off power to the Kumasi City Market, also known as the New Kejetia Market, due to unpaid arrears exceeding GH¢7 million.
Despite a prior agreement to settle the debt, ECG states that the market has not adhered to the payment plan, prompting the disconnection.
This is not the first time the market has faced a power outage for unpaid bills; a similar situation occurred in April 2024, when electricity was restored after the management committed to clearing the debt.
While the market’s management, headed by Managing Director Edmond Kofi Duffuor, asserts that they have been making efforts to pay, ECG remains dissatisfied with the progress, leading to the latest disconnection.
“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 added, “Buying diesel is so expensive, we are now depending on a generator.”
The traders are calling on the Local Government Ministry to intervene and address the electricity supply issue to ensure the market’s smooth operation.
Currently, the market is relying on generators, which management deems unsustainable.