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Countdown to Christmas …traders optimistic in spite of low purchasing power
With barely two days to Christmas, a significant number of people have stormed various market centres in Accra to make last minute purchases ahead of the long holidays.
Owing to the general economic situation, it had been predicted that the festive season may not be bubbly like previous years and that exactly seems to be the case.
While some centres were busy attending to customers, same could not be said about other places as some traders complained of low patronage.
Goods ranging from colourful outfits, gift hampers, edibles, and decorative items were displayed but the purchasing power of potential customers had fallen.
The Spectator toured some market centres in Accra where some women were dressed purposely to catch the attention of potential customers.
Some had switched from selling their usual items to dealing in products they thought would be bought quickly. The response of clients seemed unfavourable as some of them feared they may run at a loss.
One of the traders, who sold ladies’ bags, said she was expecting to make some good sales but prospective buyers were merely window shoppers and she could not differentiate the festive season from ordinary days.
Apart from the activities in Accra, our Reporter Alberto Norreti Mario reports that there has been a remarkable increase in the number of customers scrambling to buy food and various Christmas items from the various shopping centres in the Ho Municipality.
The Stadium Gate Supermarket, for instance, has pledged to commit resources and recruit people with physical disabilities (PWD) as well as other young people to perform various social responsibilities with proceeds accruing from the sales during the season.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the supermarket, Mrs Victoria Letsa said that the shopping centre was looking into the possibility of building a decent park for children, in the regional capital, Ho.
She said that customers who were flocking to the shopping centre were showing interest in Christmas cards and trees, toys and various festive gifts and decorations. “Others are also doing window shopping for now,” Mrs Letsa added.
In response to the high demand from customers, she said the shop would recruit 10 more casual workers to add to existing 90 employees, adding that the daily average of 150 customers recorded had suddenly jumped to 300.
“Our motive is not only to make profit all the time, but we are also highly concerned about the welfare of communities, and so we will continue to render humanitarian services to the less privileged, especially during the Christmas season,” she said.
By Spectator Reporter
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
The Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID) successfully held its sixth (6th) Exchange Programme, hosted by the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) Bank in Accra from March 22 to 23 March.
The event brought together member institutions, partner organisations and Ghanaian public entities to advance dialogue on South-South trade, investment and development finance, while also creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and institutional cooperation.
Organised as a capacity-building and networking platform, the 2026 edition of the G-NEXID Exchange focused on GEXIM’s experience in developing innovative solutions to promote intra-African and extra-African trade.
It also highlighted trade and investment opportunities in Ghana, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader national development initiatives.
The Exchange Programme forms part of G-NEXID’s mandate to foster cooperation among export-import banks and development finance institutions in support of South-South trade and investment.
This 6th edition follows earlier successful programmes hosted by India Exim Bank (2016), BNDES (2017), Indonesia Eximbank (2018), Afreximbank (2019) and Saudi EXIM Bank (2025).
On the first day, participants were presented with G-NEXID institutional information and received an update on the Network’s 2026 work programme.
There were a series of substantive presentations, including an overview of the Ghanaian economy by the Ministry of Finance, with particular attention to debt-related challenges; a presentation by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), on investment opportunities in the country; and institutional presentations by GEXIM and Development Bank Ghana (DBG) on their respective mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Discussions during the sessions underscored strong interest in sector-focused webinars and business dialogues, particularly in agribusiness value chains such as poultry and rice.
Participants also emphasized the importance of continued information exchange and the sharing of best practices, especially in the area of guarantees.
The second day opened with a presentation on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, a national economic transformation strategy launched by President John Dramani Mahama in July 2025.
The initiative aims to enhance economic productivity through continuous industrial activity, accelerated export development and strategic import substitution.
As the programme is expected to mobilise both private and development capital, it presents concrete opportunities for G-NEXID members in areas such as co-financing, guarantees, trade finance and technical cooperation.
The programme also featured institutional presentations by guest organisations, namely the African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD), which shared their mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Following these exchanges, the G-NEXID Secretariat held bilateral discussions with both institutions as part of the Network’s ongoing membership drive.
Participants further benefited from a presentation by the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), as well as a showcase of GEXIM’s key pipeline projects.
On the margins of the Exchange Programme, G-NEXID members also held their 20th Annual General Assembly Meeting to review progress and discuss strategic priorities.
Following the event, participants joined the GEXIM@10 International Conference, held from March 24-25, 2026 under the theme, “A Decade of Enabling Export Trade and Industrial Transformation: Resetting GEXIM for the Next Frontier.”
The conference provided an important platform for exploring how Ghana can strengthen its transition from a primary commodity exporter to a more competitive player in value-added trade and industrial development.
Source – G-NEXID
