‘Buyers have no money; we are sitting idle’ — Kantamanto trader

Traders at Ghana's Kantamanto Market are facing a dire situation as customers increasingly lack the money to purchase goods, according to Susana Asabea, a market seller. The lack of buying power is causing traders to spend long hours without making sales to sustain their businesses. Asabea has urged Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to address the financial challenges of households and traders in the upcoming 2027 Budget.

At the Joy News' PM Express, Asabea explained that buyers often pay significantly less than the quoted prices, sometimes even offering only the original purchase cost. This has left sellers with unsold goods and mounting business expenses, effectively "stuck" and unable to move forward. While the market-specific issue is concerning, Asabea noted that the financial difficulties extend to people of various backgrounds and age groups, all struggling to afford essential goods.

She emphasized that traders' challenges have wider implications for the national economy, as businesses cannot thrive without customers. Asabea appealed for the 2027 Budget to introduce measures to ease the financial pressures on consumers and restore activity in the trading sector, vital for the country's economic progress.