Exhibitors satisfied with patronage at Trade Fair

Accra, March.1, GNA- Exhibitors from sister countries in the ECOWAS sub-region have expressed satisfaction for participating in the on-going 9th Ghana International Trade Fair because their expectation were being met.

Many of them the Ghana News Agency (GNA) spoke to on the fourth day at the ECOWAS Pavilion, said though sales of goods were not as expected, they were satisfied at least because business opportunities were being opened for them.

Quite a number of them said it was their first time they were participating in a fair in Ghana but expressed the hope that what they have achieved in terms of exposure and business linkages, would afford them opportunity to take part in future fairs in Ghana.

"Mr John Kapko, from Benin said "I am very happy I came to Ghana, it my first time. The fair is big and the pavilions are fine with many exhibitors, besides there are variety of goods but the problem is money."

"The people are buying but in small quantities. Some said the prices are high and there are no money," he said.

Mr Kouessi A. Rene of Benin manufacturer of alcoholics extracted from plants and mineral said "people come to my stand and show interest in my products and say they will be back later. Some, however, do come and but are prepared to buy them in units.

Two exhibitors, a Nigerian however, said though they were happy of making business contacts, their daily sales have been very low because of where they were placed in the fair.

Mrs Mme Hounnou Bernadette from Benin, said the pavilions closer to the main gates seemed to be enjoying greater patronage from visitors than those placed at the ECOWAS stand.

Exhibitors and visitors lauded security presence at on going fair

Accra, March 1, GNA - The strong security presence coupled with their comportment at this year's on-going 9th Ghana International Trade Fair has been lauded by exhibitors and visitors as being the best so far.

The security personnel detailed at the fair ground include, those from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces as well as some local private security agencies.

One exhibitor, who spoke with the Ghana News Agency said, "Their presence has really helped because it is giving us some form of hope that our goods are safe. Personally I like the way they are going about their work."

A foreign exhibitor said she was happy, more especially because the car park allotted them has heavy security, which gives her the feeling that her car and whatever she keeps in it is safe.

A visitor going round the stands said, "it is good the security personnel are many, because during fair times, many fraudsters and criminals come around so we hope they this time they will not succeed in their deals".

Giving an update of the situation, Major Agbeko-Sedziafa, the Security Coordinator at the fair said this year, every aspect of the security work has been improved to ensure the safety of both the exhibitor and the visitors.

He said it was therefore, not surprising that for the past three days nothing serious related to fraud or any other crime has been reported, adding, "It was only one exhibitor who reported that some items were stolen but after investigation we realized no sign of breaking into her stand.

"However, security is not something which you can automatically maintain, anything can happen at any time; what we need to do is to still be on alert and hope that in the peak days when many people will visit the fair people can do their business without any problem," Major Agbeko-Sedziafa said.

He said the military men on duty only come in the evening with guard dogs whilst the police and other private security men maintained security during the daytime.