Kumasi: The Managing Director of Kumasi City Market, Mr Ernest Afayam, has given a firm assurance that plans are far advanced to provide individual electricity meters to all traders at the Kejetia Market who wish to have their own. He pledged that the distribution of these meters will be completed by the end of 2026.
According to Ghana Web, Mr Afayam made this commitment during his first official stakeholder forum at the Kejetia Dubai section of the market, convened to address the persistent electricity challenges hindering business operations. Traders at Kejetia have long struggled under a centralised billing system that forces the entire market to operate on a single meter. This arrangement has led to numerous frustrations over inflated and unfair electricity charges that do not reflect individual consumption. While previous attempts to implement individual metering were stalled by leadership transitions, Mr Afayam emphasised that the current management is prioritising a lasting solution.
"We are in active discussions with the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), King Zuba, to expedite the installation of individual meters. We are optimistic that by the end of 2026, we will have made significant progress in transitioning every trader to their own meter," the MD announced. The forum provided a platform for traders to voice their dissatisfaction with current billing practices, which many described as confusing and unsustainable. In response, management pledged to ensure transparency in bill calculations and to foster a more collaborative working relationship with the trading community.
To maintain this momentum, the Managing Director announced that similar consultative forums will be held every three to six months, ensuring that market management remains accountable and that traders are kept informed of policy developments. This assurance was made by the chairman in response to the Queen Mother of Kejetia, Nana Yaa Foriwaa, who requested that such meetings be held at least every six months.
Nana Anim Akari, Otumfuo Atipin Nifahene and President of the Ghana Traditional Caterers Association, welcomed the MD's pledge but stressed the urgency of the situation. "We need a swift resolution by year-end," Nana Akari urged, noting that frequent power outages and billing inconsistencies continue to cripple caterers and other businesses. The Chairman of Kumasi City Market (Kejetia), Mr Johnson Ankrah, who was the mastermind behind the organisation, acknowledged that the shared billing system has been a major source of conflict and misinformation. He expressed hope that this new roadmap for individual metering would restore trust between the market administration and the thousands of traders who rely on the facility for their livelihood.