New Kejetia Market: Traders lock-up management offices over ‘unfair treatments’

Traders at the New Kejetia Market in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region on Tuesday October 5, 2021, locked-up the offices of management of the facility in protest of what they described as “unfair treatments”.

The agitation follows a decision by management of the market to close down over 200 shops over unpaid Service charges.

Following the closure, the traders hoisted red flags on their cars and drove straight to the entrance of the management’s office blocking it in an attempt to prevent them from working.

Narrating the background of the demonstration to OTEC News Kwame Agyenim Boateng, chairman of Concern Traders Association Mr Frank Antwi said the leadership in early August 2021,  directed all traders not to pay any service charge including electricity bills until the numerous challenges in the facility are resolved.

The move he added was borne out of the refusal of the managers to provide each store/shop with its own electricity metre.

The traders, however, came to work on Tuesday October 5, only to find out that over 200 shops have been locked causing agitation among shop owners in the market.

Mr Frank Antwi noted that traders at the new market have been paying exorbitant fees all in the name of service charges.

While describing as a cheat , Mr Kwabena Fosu, Operations Manager for Concern Traders Association said the huge service charges is as a result of the over 8000 shops using a single electricity metre.

He added that although the traders are ready to laise up with the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG and pay for the provision of individual meters, board of the market is dragging its feet to sign the agreement for distribution and installation of meters.

For her part the Queen mother of Cloth Sellers Association Nana Yaa Boadu called on the management and the board of the facility to immediately sign the agreement, else they will advise themselves.

Meanwhile all attempts to get the manager of the market, Mr Kofi Dufour to get his side of the m story proven futile as he was nowhere to be found.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Jacob Agyenim Boateng