Kejetia Market Faces Governance Vacuum
The Kejetia Market, one of Ghana’s largest and most vibrant trading hubs, has been operating without a functioning board of directors for over a year. Kumasi City Market Limited (KCML), the entity responsible for managing the market, has been without a parliamentary-capacity board since 2023, leaving critical strategic decisions and oversight in limbo. The absence of a formal leadership structure has left traders and market operators navigating a governance vacuum that risks inefficiencies, mismanagement, and potential revenue losses.
According to the President of the Federation of Kumasi Traders, the situation is unsustainable. He has called on government authorities to intervene promptly, stressing that vital decisions about maintenance, vendor allocation, security, sanitation, and revenue collection can no longer wait. The longer the board absence persists, the greater the risk of a slide in market order and trader confidence.
Why a Board Matters for a Busy Market
A functioning board provides strategic direction, accountability, and a clear framework for operations. For KCML, this means setting long-term goals, approving budgets, and ensuring that daily transactions align with city planning and market policies. Without a board, there is no easily identifiable owner of major decisions, which can slow procurement, stall repairs, and hamper responsiveness to traders’ concerns about rent, stall allocation, and safety measures.
Traders say that reliability in leadership translates into smoother market days, better dispute resolution, and more predictable fee structures. When decisions require collective agreement and formal ratification, the absence of leadership can lead to ad hoc approaches that cause confusion and frustration among the stallholders and small business owners who drive the market’s economy.
The Economic and Social Stakes
Kejetia Market is a major employer and an economic artery for Kumasi. Any disruption to governance can ripple through livelihoods—from stall rents to supplier terms and the provision of basic amenities like water, electricity, and waste management. Traders warn that delayed projects, postponed repairs, and inconsistent enforcement of market rules could undermine business confidence and push some traders toward informal arrangements that bypass the market’s formal systems.
Community leaders emphasize that the market is more than a place to buy and sell goods; it is a social space that anchors the local economy and sustains thousands of households. A clear and credible governance regime is essential to preserve order, ensure safety, and promote fair competition among traders—especially in crowded peak periods when footfall is highest.
What Traders Want from Government Action
The Federation is requesting:
- Immediate appointment of a functioning KCML board or an interim oversight body with clear mandate and timelines.
- Transparency in admissions, stall allocations, and fee structures to protect small-scale traders.
- Prompt attention to maintenance, sanitation, drainage, electricity reliability, and security enhancements.
- Audited financial management to ensure tax and levy collections are handled responsibly and equitably.
Experts say that while market authorities have a duty to ensure orderly operations, government institutions must provide the enabling framework that allows KCML to govern effectively. The current stalemate risks eroding investor and trader confidence at a critical juncture as markets adapt to digital payment trends and evolving consumer behavior.
Paths Forward
Analysts propose several practical steps: appointing an interim board with a clear mandate and sunset clause, inviting stakeholder representatives from trader associations, and establishing a robust oversight mechanism that can report progress to the city council and the public. Strengthened regulatory oversight could also help align KCML’s activities with Kumasi’s broader urban development plans, ensuring that the market’s growth benefits both traders and residents alike.
As the call for government intervention grows louder, stakeholders hope that a timely, transparent solution will restore governance credibility, stabilize operations, and safeguard the livelihoods that Kejetia Market sustains daily.
