A pervasive wave of frustration and anxiety has engulfed the iconic Kejetia Market in Kumasi, as traders voice bitter grievances over the relentless, erratic power outages, popularly known as “dumsor”, that continue to paralyze commercial activities across the Ashanti Region.
The crisis came to a head during a high-profile fact-finding tour led by Hon. Collins Adomako-Mensah, Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Energy Committee.
Tasked with assessing the ground reality of the energy sector’s impact on local commerce, the lawmaker was met with impassioned testimonies from distraught vendors whose livelihoods are rapidly unraveling under the weight of an unstable national grid.
Severe Losses across the Market Floor
From perishable food items to custom tailoring, the repercussions of the power grid’s instability span every corner of West Africa’s largest open-air trading hub.
Paralyzed Tailoring Services:
Madam Afua Adutwumwaa, a middle-aged seamstress who relies on electric sewing equipment, broke down in tears as she recounted the devastating toll on her business.
Unable to power her machinery to complete garments on schedule, she has seen a severe drop in client trust.
“I have lost valued, long-standing customers who simply cannot wait indefinitely for their clothes,” she lamented, pointing to piles of unfinished orders stalled by the blackout.
Capital Loss :
At Kejetia Gate 11, shop attendant Akwasi Kodua shared a stark breakdown of his financial losses.
Power surges and unexpected blackouts have destroyed two of his commercial refrigerators.
Deprived of consistent cold storage, his perishable inventory, including fresh yogurt, beverages, and ice blocks, has spoiled repeatedly.
“These items require 24/7 refrigeration.
and every outage translates directly into dumped stock and zero revenue for the day,” Kodua explained.
Beyond individual losses, broader foot traffic across the complex has plummeted.
Traders report that dark corridors and sweltered walkways are driving away shoppers, compounding an already difficult economic environment.
Political Intervention:
Addressing a gathering of affected traders, shop attendants, and members of the press, Hon. Collins Adomako-Mensah expressed deep sympathy over the harrowing accounts presented to him, characterizing the current predicament as a critical strain on local enterprise.
“Listening to these stories firsthand paints a grim picture of what our business community is enduring,” Hon. Adomako-Mensah stated.
He said, “I urge all traders to exercise calm as we navigate these difficult times. From our end, the Parliamentary Minority will utilize every legislative channel available to apply relentless pressure on the government to restore grid stability and salvage commercial operations.”
Injecting a political dimension into the discussion, the MP added, “I am confident the public misses the governance of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)”.
He stressed that, “history shows our administration consistently delivered superior management across all sectors of the economy, particularly in energy resilience.”
Background:
The timing of this energy disruption adds intense pressure to an already high-stakes economic week.
The outcry from the Ashanti Region comes on the eve of the presentation of the 2027 National Budget Statement, set to be delivered before Parliament by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
As the nerve center of commercial trade in central Ghana, the Kejetia Market complex, housing tens of thousands of registered vendors, serves as a vital economic engine for the country.
The ongoing power supply failure not only threatens the survival of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within the market, but also risks ripple effects across the regional supply chain.
Traders and business leaders across Kumasi are watching Parliament closely this week, hoping the Minister’s budget presentation will deliver concrete fiscal policies, infrastructure investment, and immediate relief to permanently resolve the power crisis and restore commercial vitality to the region.
Article By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie,
Kumasi.
