By: Fauzia Adam
The drizzles at the central business district could not deter motorist, shoppers and hawkers from causing traffic and pedestrian jam.
Even the presence of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) task force known as ‘Abaaye’ was not a hindrance for hawkers to go about their everyday business.
With the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration just a day away, all roads leading to the Makola, Kantamanto, Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) and the Agbogbloshie markets were choked with vehicular and human traffic.
Interestingly, most of the traders who sold foodstuffs lamented of low patronage of their items while second-hand clothes and shoes dealers were satisfied with their sales.
One Akwasi who deals in ladies shoes told Fauzy about the satisfaction of his business so far. Akwasi who claimed to be selling ‘first class store reject’ shoes said the shoes ranged from GHC 7 to GHC40.
“I have sold plenty shoes since Saturday. Business has been good so far and I know more women would come in for the shoes. We know their types of shoes. They like open toe, wedge, and so on,” Akwasi told Fauzy.
Fauzy interviewed a shopper who expressed his preference for slightly used clothes to new ones. He complained of the high cost of new clothes and shoes hence his preference for second- hand goods.
One Mariama Adamu who sells food spices complained of low patronage of her items but expressed the hope that things would be better by the end of Tuesday (tomorrow).
“Last year was better than this year. This time people do not buy things at all which affect our business drastically,” she said.
Other traders who complained of low patronage were chicken sellers in Kantamanto.
One Bozie who sells chicken in the Belly of Kantamanto said he is expecting a high patronage of the chicken by tomorrow.
“People do not buy chicken a week before the celebration for the fear that the chickens would grow lean before the day. That is why I just sold only two chickens today” he added.
Compared to the previous months when a basket of tomato was sold for GHC6, the same basket now sells at GHC2 per basket likewise onions, tubers of yam.
“This is the season for foodstuffs so the prices have gone down drastically” said one of the traders.
Among the goods in high demand were food items such as rice, oil, confectioneries, as well as clothes, especially women and children’s wear and shoes.
