Rush for last minute shopping on Christmas Eve

Accra, Dec. 24, GNA- Human traffic and the rush for last minute shopping on Christmas Eve at the Central business district in Accra remained the same this year and most traders say sales were not encouraging.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the business district on Monday, major shops such as Melcom shopping mall were as usual packed with customers whiles pedestrians shared the principal streets with vehicles.

The prices of vegetables, especially onion and tomatoes were low as compared to previous years, though there was a slight price increase on some commodities.

The demand for clothes, shoes, drinks and biscuits were however high and most banking institutions in the area also witnessed long queues. Madam Afia Agyapomaa, a trader at the Tema Station told GNA that the price increase, especially in items bought from Togo and neighbouring countries was as a result of the cedi's depression against the CFA Franc.

She said even though there were many people in the market, they were not buying as expected.

Another trader, Ms. Akosua Adoley Addo, who sells drinks at Makola said buying was regular on Monday as compared to previous days and was optimistic that sales would still increase in the next few days. " The occasion calls for high demand for drinks and I believe that people would be buying more of that", she added.

Meanwhile, the price a fowl ranges between six Ghana cedis (60,000 cedis) and 10 Ghana cedis (100,000 cedis), a litre of cooking oil cost two Ghana cedis, 50 pesewas (25,000 cedis), and a five-kilogramme long grain rice was selling at seven Ghana cedis (70,000 cedis).

The 25-kilo rice is selling between 15 Ghana cedis (150,000 cedis) and 25 Ghana cedis (250,000) while the 50- Kilo rice cost 50 Ghana cedis (500,000 cedis).