Kejetia Market in the Ashanti region is facing a challenging situation as it is currently disconnected from the national power grid due to a GH¢70 million debt owed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
This is the second time this has happened, and the market has been relying on an alternative power plant for its energy needs since the disconnection occurred about a week ago.
Traders and customers at the market have been feeling the negative impact of the power outage on the market’s operations. One trader expressed their frustration, mentioning that sales have been slow as people are hesitant to visit the market when there is no power. The reliance on a generator set has been causing difficulties for them, with power intermittently going on and off.
Customers have also raised concerns about safety and comfort at the market. With the lights constantly going off, there is a fear that criminal elements may take advantage of the situation. The heat due to the lack of electricity has also made the environment uncomfortable for both traders and customers.
The President of the Federation of Kumasi Traders, Nana Akwasi Prempeh, highlighted the challenges faced by customers navigating the market in the dark. He mentioned that the structure of the market makes it difficult for people to find their way around, affecting both their comfort and perception of security. This, in turn, has a negative impact on the traders as customers may feel discouraged from buying goods at the market.
In an effort to ensure that the market does not remain in darkness, the management has resorted to using a power plant as an alternative source. However, this comes at a higher cost and with technical issues that make the power supply unsustainable.
According to Nana Akwasi Prempeh, the market is consuming a significant amount of diesel every six hours to keep the power plant running, further adding to the financial burden.
