By Elizabeth PUNSU
Traders at the Kejetia Market are calling on management of Kumasi City Markets Ltd. (KCML) to immediately terminate the Kejetia metering project contract with Tanja Engineering Works Ltd.
The traders have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the contractor’s performance, citing delays and unmet expectations – and hence are urging swift action to address their concerns.
According to Chairman-Federation of Kumasi Traders, Nana Akwasi Prempeh, the project was initially expected to be completed within six months; from March 2024 to July 2024. However, as of now only a little over 300 meters have been installed and none of them are operational.
The situation worsened last weekend when the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cut power supply to the market due to an outstanding debt of approximately GH₵1.6million. This power shortage has angered traders, particularly those who have already paid for personal meters but are still suffering from lack of electricity.
In an interview with Business & Financial Times (B&FT), Nana Prempeh revealed that power was restored after the traders’ leadership engaged with the Ashanti West division of ECG. They assured the utility provider that funds would be mobilised to settle part of the debt by end of the week.
“The contract should be abrogated. The six-month duration from March to August last year has long expired. The contractor was supposed to install about 8,000 meters but only a little over 300 have been installed and even those are not connected to power. Some traders have paid for meters but have not received them,” Nana Prempeh said.
He further explained that the traders’ leadership had assured ECG of mobilising GH₵330,000 initially, with plans to raise an additional GH₵500,000 by end of the week.
Contractor’s financial capacity questioned
Nana Prempeh also raised concerns about the contractor’s financial capability to execute the project.
“The reality is that the contractor lacks financial capacity to deliver. Initially, he proposed setting up a technical system in Accra, but the KCML Managing Director, Edmund Kofi Duffour Addae, insisted it should be done in Kumasi. The contractor expected to fund the project incrementally by using payments from traders for installed meters to purchase additional ones. This approach is unsustainable and shows his inability to finance the project upfront,” he noted.
Furthermore, Nana Prempeh, revealed that a report by the consultant further cast doubt on the contractor’s performance – hence, he advised KCML against releasing any further funds to the contractor.
“The consultant’s report clearly states that the work done so far does not meet the required standards and no additional payments should be made to the contractor,” he added.
