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COVID-19: Some traders at Accra Arts Centre close shops over low sales
Once a vibrant tourist haven of Ghana filled with Ghanaians from the diaspora and other foreign nationals, has virtually become dormant, following the outbreak of coronavirus across the globe.
The Accra Arts Centre which is one of the biggest craft markets in the country, had been in existence for about three decades. Tourists could purchase items ranging from woven kente clothes, paintings, wooden sculptures, earrings, textiles and other fashion accessories.
Some traders revealed that prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, they used to make between GH₵500 and GH₵1,000 of sales in a day, depending on your products.
The centre housing over 300 shops, can now boast of a paltry 40 opened shops, after some owners decided to close theirs over low sales and patronage, Vice President of Kente and Adinkra Manufactures Association, Kwame Amakye told The Spectator.
Narrating their challenges to the paper, Kwame Amakye who also plied his trade at the centre for the past 28 years, said following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the closure of borders worldwide, their sector has become one of the hardest hit, making it difficult for traders.
He said majority of their clients were mostly Ghanaians from the diaspora and other foreign tourists, which had been whittled down by the pandemic.
According to him due to the development, most sales have dwindled sharply, making it unprofitable because people incurred transportation cost to the centre, and ended up not making any sales to make ends meet.
“As a result, many shop owners, have decided to stay home, until the situation is improved,” he said.
He added that some of them made it an effort to come, just to ensure that the market did not collapse, in view of the challenges.
Mr Kwame Amakye appealed to government to as a matter of urgency to stimulate the sector, because COVID-19 had dealt a big blow to them. He said every process for the stimulus package must be fast-tracked to save lives and families.
“Sometimes, you receive a call from a colleague requesting for GH₵50, for his family to feed on for that very day, and I ask myself, what happens to the following days?” he quizzed.
A trader, Kwabena Kakra also told the paper that the government’s stimulus package is their only hope for activities to bounce back in the midst of the difficulties
“It is our prayer that a vaccine is found within this shortest possible time to bring situation under control,” he said.
Following the outbreak of COVID-19, movement of people across borders had come to a standstill as countries closed their entry points to contain the virus.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
Gunfire erupts between Police and Customs at Bawku checkpoint over smuggling dispute
Heavy gunfire erupted at the Missiga Immigration Service checkpoint in Bawku following a confrontation between personnel from the Ghana Police Service and Customs officials on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
Sources say the clash began when police officers refused to allow the Customs officials to inspect a Togo-bound truck that was alleged to be loaded with smuggled cocoa beans.
Customs suspected the truck was carrying smuggled cocoa beans and insisted on investigating, leading to a heated standoff with police officers in the area.
The situation is said to have escalated into an exchange of gunfire between the Customs and police personnel, prompting an intervention by military officers in an attempt to de-escalate the confrontation.
A video of the incident shows a dramatic turn when the heated verbal exchange turned violent and heavy gunfire erupted between the two security agencies.
The sound of shots rang through the checkpoint, sending bystanders and other officials scrambling for cover.
For several minutes, the checkpoint was transformed into a chaotic and perilous zone as members of the police and Customs exchanged fire in what appeared to be an alarming display of interagency conflict.
The situation has led to widespread concerns and discussions about the coordination between government bodies tasked with safeguarding Ghana’s borders.
Cocoa smuggling has long been a significant issue, with traffickers trying to avoid taxes and duties by illegally transporting goods across borders, particularly to countries like Togo and Ivory Coast.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
Police clarifies misunderstanding at Missiga security checkpoint
The Ghana Police Service has clarified a misunderstanding which erupted at the Missiga checkpoint yesterday.
In a statement issued today, the Police noted that “On October 9, 2024, a misunderstanding ensued among personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Ghana Police Service, over an intercepted consignment of smuggled cocoa bags, at the Missiga security checkpoint at Bawku in the Upper East Region.”
“We wish to state that the Ghana Police Service yesterday, 9th October 2024, intercepted the smuggled consignment based on intelligence and were in the process of escorting the truck to the Bawku Divisional Police Command for the consignment to be handed over to COCOBOD and the culprits investigated and prosecuted by the Police in line with established protocol with Ghana COCOBOD,” the statement added.
The Police further added that “For the record, the Police recently intercepted smuggled cocoa beans on two occasions within the region, and the intercepted consignments were handed over to COCOBOD, while the suspects are currently being prosecuted by the Police. It is, therefore, untrue that the Police were in any way facilitating the smuggled consignments, as being claimed. In the aftermath of the incident.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read full statement below
