Tema Community One market traders complain of low sales

Tema, Dec. 23, GNA - Barely three days to celebrate Christmas, traders at Tema Community One market have complained about low patronage of their wares.

Most of them were either calling for the attention of customers or relaxing behind their wares blaming the low patronage on the December 28 Presidential election run-off.

They told Ghana News Agency on Monday that most people were concentrating on the run-off causing a reduction in the purchase of goods such as biscuits, drinks, rice, gifts and decorations for Christmas celebration.

Owners of some gift shops visited said their shops were being neglected by customers as they explained that the few people who visited their shops only bought greeting cards.

Shopkeepers at Esca's Gift Shop said even though they had presentable gift items, customers preferred buying greeting cards which prices range from one to four Ghana cedis. Auntie Maggie, a trader in Christmas decorations and artificial flowers said even though individuals were not buying as expected, some churches were buying items for the decoration of their auditorium. However, she was optimistic that, the trade pattern would change on the eve of Christmas noting that customers were noted for shopping at the last minute.

She gave the price of a strip of plastic Christmas decoration as GH¢1.50 while the price of a Christmas tree ranges from GH¢10 to GH¢70 and a music light decoration cost between three and five Ghana cedis.

The meat section of the market looked virtually empty as only few people were spotted buying meat. Mr Alhassan Baba Ahmed, a meat seller said; "market is so bad that the normal trend of people trooping in to buy around this time is missing." A rice and oil seller who claimed people were not buying despite the reduction in prices blamed the low patronage on lack of money in the system.