Traders Unhappy As Kejetia Market Management Default Payment Terms Of ECG

Traders at the Kejetia Market in the Ashanti Region are up in arms about the failure of the management of the market to abide by payment terms with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to settle accumulated bills in excess of GHS5.4 million.

Three months ago, the ECG cut power at the Kejetia Market, and businesses were at a standstill for seven days due to debt.

After an engagement with the Kumasi City Mayor, Samuel Pyne, the traders insisted on accessing separate meters as a condition to offset their accumulated bills of GHS5.4 million.

The traders said the management of the market had collected GHS4million out of the GHS5.4 million owed ECG and that they were therefore surprised when the staff of ECG attempted disconnecting power on Monday, 19 September 2022, after payment of almost 80%.

“Yesterday, ECG sent some representatives to come and cut power in the market. That made us understand that the money we have paid to the market management hasn’t gotten to ECG yet. It resulted in some market leaders visiting the market management to enquire why ECG hasn’t received the money, “a trader explained.

In response to the enquiry, the market management explained that GCB Bank had a challenge in transferring the money to ECG hence the non-payment.

An angry trader, Reuben Ammey, indicated that they “will disagree with anybody who says traders have not paid enough to defray the cost”.

Reuben also accused the management of the facility of misappropriation of funds.

The traders suspect that the management used the funds to pay staff bonuses for 2021.

“When we were paying the money, we were paying with the mindset that we wanted to pay our bills as early as possible and get our meters. That was why we paid our bills as fast as possible, so if you decide to use that money for service charges, it’s your own issue,” another trader observed.