Language barrier crippling sales at Trade Fair

Accra, March 1, GNA- Language barrier at the ECOWAS Pavilion at the on-going 9th Ghana International Trade Fair seems to be crippling the marketing abilities of exhibitors thereby recording low sales for their products.

Most of the stands belonging to exhibitors from sister Francophone countries could only speak the French language, making it difficult to communicate with greater percentage of the visitors who apparently happen to be Ghanaians who predominantly speak English.

Ghana News Agency (GNA) sample view of exhibitors expectations of the fair, which began last Thursday with nearly 1,000 exhibitors both local and foreign, showed that exhibitors had employed interpreters.

Mr Mr Kouessi A. Rene of Benin said the issue had really affected him because many visitors who come to his stand spent short times and have to leave because communication was a problem.

"When I realised it, I begin making advertisement to have some one who can speak English but I have still not have any one," he said. Three other Benin women who sell African made clothes and could only speak French and the Ewe language complained bitterly saying "most people cannot speak French and the people are not buying things". One of them, Mrs Mme Hounnou Bernadette said having experienced this problem, they would take the needed steps to ensure that they come along with people who could understand the language of the host country but added that in future fairs at the ECOWAS pavilion should be placed near the main gate.