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

Traders at the Kantamanto Market in Accra are facing a challenge as customers increasingly complain about a lack of money to purchase goods, putting pressure on businesses and threatening their profitability. Susana Asabea, a trader at the market, spoke about the situation on the PM Express programme on Joy News. She stated that many sellers were spending long hours at their stalls without making enough sales to sustain their businesses.

Asabea appealed to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to address these financial difficulties in the 2027 Budget, which will be presented to Parliament on November 12. She expressed concerns that buyers frequently reduced prices to half the quoted amount, sometimes paying only the original purchase cost. This financial strain has left traders unable to sell their goods and recover their costs, resulting in stagnant sales.

Asabea emphasized that the issue extends beyond Kantamanto Market, with people from various backgrounds struggling to afford everyday necessities. She urged the Finance Minister to focus on improving the conditions for buying and selling, as businesses cannot expand or contribute to national development without a thriving market.