Kejetia Market butchers clash with management in debt recovery crackdown

The ongoing tension at the Kejetia Market is far from ending as butchers confront management over the seizure of their equipment due to unpaid electricity bills.

This comes after the market was disconnected from the national grid earlier in the week, prompting management to initiate a rigorous debt recovery operation.

The butchers, furious over the confiscation, are calling for the immediate removal of Managing Director Edmund Kofi Duffour, accusing him of targeting their members unfairly. They also blame the management team for failing to address their repeated requests for separate electricity meters.

With businesses suffering under soaring bills, the butchers have given a two-week ultimatum, threatening drastic action if their demands go unmet.

“The new MD is not helping matters. We have been paying electricity bills, yet we are being disconnected over debts. He came here to seize our tools and other equipment. This is unfair and we are backing calls for the removal of the MD. We feel targeted and this should not happen”, one of the butchers said.

Power restored

Meanwhile, power has been restored after the market complex was plunged into darkness for nearly 72 hours. However, after negotiations with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to offset the debt, the market management is expected to be consistent in the scheduled payments in the coming weeks.

“By August 30 if they pay GH₵200,000 we will expect them to pay another GH₵273,000 by September 6. On 10th September, we will expect another payment which is the legacy debt. The payment plan includes the May and June bills and the debt. They are supposed to finish paying by 16th September with the exception of the July bill,” Public Relations Officer for ECG-Ashanti West, Benjamin Obeng Antwi told Kumasi-based Luv FM.

Separate meters

On providing separate meters for the thousands of shops at the facility, Ruben Ameh, the Secretary of the Combined Kejetia Petty Traders Association says work has resumed after several setbacks.

“The project halted a few weeks ago. However, the contractor has resumed work because he needed to fix certain things as prescribed by the consultant. But he has been fixing meters as we speak now, even though the project is at a slow pace”, he said.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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