Window Shopping is Now the Craze

Pedestrians and motorists competing with each other for walking and driving spaces at the central business district of Accra describes the scene as Christmas approaches. Shops and super markets have been decorated with Christmas lights and trees. Cassette and music shops focus their attention on the sale and playing of Christmas carols and classicals.
Normal business activities still go on with traders and hawkers flooding the streets of Makola, Tudu and the UTC areas and a few people shopping for the Christmas festivities. Whilst some people confirm that they are shopping in preparation for the Christmas others say it is their normal day to day transactions.
In an interview, a shop owner who gave her name only as Rita said the city looks so busy but people are not really buying; rather, most are doing window-shopping. Asked about how sales have been as compared to last year, she answered in Twi, saying "afe yi die krom aye den " which means "for this year, things are tough."
Tekyi Mensah, who was shopping for his kids said, "these days I reserve Christmas for my kids since every kid will like to have what his or her friend has." He said since Ghana joined the club of Highly Indebted Poor Countries-HIPC, things have not been the same as last year. "I am still hoping for a break through else no Christmas for me"
In another interview with a super market operator, her assertion was that the market is either too slow or almost approaching the stand still point. Kesiwaa, the super market operator said the market was quite busy last year by this time. However Kesiwaa's hope are still aglow as according to her "Ghanaians are fond of last minute shopping."
Madam Busola, a Nigerian gift shop operator expressed her shock about how such a religious country like Ghana seems to have had a declining interest in Christmas as years come by. Busola, who has been in the country for eight years says business rather decline at this time of the year. Asked how many buy a Christmas card a day, she gave the answer as an average of nine a day.
Public Agenda's investigation reveals that 50kg bag of an American number one long grain rice is between ? 220,000and ?230,000 but the same bag of rice sold at ?195,000 last year at this same time.
A carton of Ideal milk is ?118000 whilst the same milk sold between ?79,000 and ?95,000 in the last quarter of year 2001.
In the poultry market, an average size broiler sells between ?25,000 and ?30,000whilst it was below ?25,000 last year by this time. A layer is now selling between ?22,000 and ?24,000 but sold below ?20000 in 2001. A male turkey is selling at ?250,000 whilst the female is ?200,000 but sold at ?200,000and ?180,000 respectively last year.
Transportation is seen to be a problem for people who want to go back to their various homes after the day's activities during this season. Even the introduction of the mass metro transport seems not to have solved this problem. Opportunistic drivers also seem to have taken advantage of the yuletide and are charging high fares.