X’mas Shoppers Overwhelm Traders

Traders in the Central Business District of Accra have been swamped by several thousands of shoppers who have invaded their shops, as the Christmas season draws closer. Shop owners, who spoke to CITY & BUSINESS GUIDE, said they underestimated trading activities this season, especially after the recent presidential and parliamentary elections. At the Okaishie market, George Yeboah, a textile shop owner, who made reference to jammed streets and car parks said, “I was not expecting many people to come out to shop this December considering the political atmosphere but more and more people keep coming as the days go by.”

He said “though my shop opens at 8am and closes at 5pm buyers have in the past three days come to queue over here.” At the pedestrian shopping Mall located at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, the traders claimed trading activities were low. Mawusi Setorfe, jewelry seller said “the people who come around are only engaged in window shopping. They are not buying. They only come to see our displayed goods and then they leave.” Ms Setorfe intends to make profit during the final days of the year. “I have stocked my shop and I estimate that my overall sales by the end of the year will shoot up compared to last year’s sales.” By Emelia Ennin Abbey