News
Craze for x’mas shopping: Crowded markets, low patronage
Vendors of food and other wares associated with the Christmas celebration have expressed surprise at the low patronage despite the increased number of visitors to some of the major markets across the capital.
Four days to the celebration(Christmas), the markets are filled with various products ranging from food, clothing, livestock and many other stuff, but according to the vendors, patrons are doing more ‘window’ shopping.
The Spectator on visits to some of the markets in the capital, notably the Odawna, Makola, Accra Central Business District, New Town and others made similar observations as shoppers crowd them but did little in terms of purchases.
The paper also observed that majority of vendors, originally selling other wares have switched to product related to the festive season.
What it means is that there are a lot more clothes, food and vegetables, livestock and poultry, toys, firecrackers, drinks of different types and many others on display.
The markets have also stretched to the pedestrian pavement, leaving very narrow spaces for commuters to move about freely.
That, in addition to a few of the female vendors dressed in coloured attires to reflect the occasion, has heightened the euphoria, leaving the low sales as the only headache for the vendors.
Speaking with this paper, they sounded very optimistic, believing that sales would improve in the last few days to the yuletide.
According to them, there was the opportunity to sell beyond Christmas as the New Year celebration offers similar opportunity to trade the same wares.
They urged patrons to throng the markets to shop since prices were quite moderate and products affordable for all.
News
APC to contest Tamale Central parliamentary seat
The All People’s Congress (APC) has announced plans to present a candidate for the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Tamale Central Constituency.
The leader of the party, Hassan Ayariga, who made this known in a statement on August 26, 2025, said the decision was taken after broad consultations with both national and constituency executives.
He explained that Tamale Central deserves strong, credible, and people-focused representation in Parliament.
Dr. Ayariga said the APC was committed to deepening Ghana’s democracy by giving the people of Tamale Central a true voice in Parliament.
According to him, politics is about participation, representation, and improving the lives of citizens.
He added that the APC was ready to work with its grassroots to secure victory in the constituency.
The party has, therefore, called on its members, supporters, and residents of Tamale Central to rally behind its candidate in the coming elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
YEA boss assures timely salaries for Community Police Assistants
The Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, has assured graduands of the Community Police Assistant programme that their salaries will not be delayed.
In his address during the graduation ceremony at the Ghana Police Academy in Tesano on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Mr. Basintale said the payments would be made monthly to ensure that the officers could work effectively for the country.
He commended the graduands for successfully completing their training, noting that the programme had instilled discipline, diligence, and excellence in them.
He recalled his initial doubts when he saw some recruits at the beginning of the training but said he was impressed by the transformation witnessed during the passing-out parade.
The YEA boss urged the new officers to respect their uniforms and carry out their duties with discipline.
He added that their work would contribute to President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour security agenda.
Mr. Basintale disclosed that under a memorandum of understanding signed between the YEA and the Ghana Police Service, disciplined graduates who meet the necessary requirements would be shortlisted for future police recruitment.
He expressed appreciation to the Ghana Police Service and the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, George Opare Addo, for their support in implementing the initiative.
So far, 12,000 community police assistants have been trained and deployed across the country under the programme, according to the YEA.
By: Jacob Aggrey
