Traders at the Kejetia market in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region have been set to receive 2000 prepaid metres from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
This came after the traders requested for individual metres at the market.
The traders have on several occasions clashed with the management of the Kejetia market over the decision to use one bulk meter for the over seven thousand (7000) shops in the market.
Traders over the years complained that they pay exorbitant electricity bills due to the failure of the management of the facility to provide separate meters for shops within the market.
They have been resisting payment of utility bills causing problems in the market
Following the resistance, the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Dan Botwe met the traders in early January and pledged to solve the issue.
True to his words, Chairman of Combined Kumasi Kejetia/Central Market Traders Association, Frank Antwi has confirmed the arrival of the first batch of the meters.
Speaking to SILVER News Akwadaa Nyame, Mr Antwi said plans are in advance to install separate meters for traders at the facility. He also noted that traders will cooperate with the facility’s management and ECG to hasten the installation process.
“We requested about 8,000 meters and additional for individual shops, and I can now confirm to you that, first batch of the meters which is 2000 is ready. Traders will liaise with management of the facility and the Electricity Company of Ghana to ensure swift installation of the meters.”
Speaking on the upholding debt by the traders, Mr Frank Antwi urged traders to pay the debts they own ECG. He added that by paying the debts, the new meters would be ready for use by the time their installation is complete.
“Our mothers and sisters who still have debts on their meters that have been shared among [themselves], they have to try and pay the debt so that in a month, two months or three months, the meters will be fixed so that everybody can have his or her meter, then it will help us ease our pressure.”