Traders in Sunyani raise concern about influx of shopping malls

Traders in Sunyani are alarmed by the growing presence of shopping malls in their city, fearing it could endanger their livelihoods. Most of these merchants are women who say the affordable prices at the malls are driving some local stores out of business. A market survey revealed a surge of shopping centers, including several Chinese-owned outlets, in various parts of Sunyani.

These malls, such as Makro Mall, Red Star Mall, and Lemon Mall, offer a variety of goods like furniture, clothing, electronics, and kitchenware. Local merchants, particularly those operating in the CBD, have called for government intervention to level the playing field and help them compete more effectively with the malls, especially the Chinese ones.

Traders like Madam Theresah Asantewaa, a shop owner, and Madam Mercy Amoah, a clothes dealer, have expressed concern over the lower prices at the malls compared to local markets. She noted that a dining table set typically sold for GH¢1,500 locally could be purchased for GH¢1,000 at one of the malls, and cooking utensils priced at GH¢1,300 locally were being sold for only GH¢800 at a mall.