Cape Coast shop owners less optimistic of Easter trade boom

Shop owners and shoppers in Cape Coast on Wednesday posted mixed views on the pre -Easter shopping as most shops appear to be enduring poor patronage.

Some shop owners said the previous year was far better than this year as most shops were empty with no sign of shoppers.


The Ghana News Agency had hit the streets of the Metropolis to find out how business was doing this Easter Festivities, which starts on Good Friday, April 6.


The Melcom shopping mall was however different as it was filled with a lot of people mostly students in second cycle institutions.


Some shoppers who spoke to the GNA complained that there was not much money to spare and that they will make do with their old attires to church services and later have fun at the beach on Monday.


Meanwhile, the Metro Bus Transport Terminal was full of passengers waiting to travel to the Kwahu Mountains where grand Easter festivities are always held and patronised by people from all walks of life.

Other shop owners said patronage so far was low and that this Easter was one of the worst seasons they would witness in their entire lives.


A second hand clothes seller, who only gave her name as Hilda, said during festivities like Easter, the prices of goods go up but buyers still shop to the optimum.


Leticia, an attendant at a wine shop at Kingsway, lamented that she was expecting customers to troop into her shop this season.


The GNA spoke to one Dramani, a sunglasses seller, who also said people normally buy on Easter Sundays to prepare for their Easter Monday beach parties so he was just hoping for something good to come out of that Sunday.


Ms Lydia Simpson, a shop attendant at the Stella Dougan GTP shop, told the GNA that she was yet to feel the impending Easter season because shoppers may troop in at the last minute.

Mr. Samuel Asare, a businessman said he will attend church service during the occasion.


Meanwhile a lot of Easter conventions and social activities have been advertised to commemorate the season.


Among them are three to four day conventions, by the Churches of Pentecost, Baptists, Church of Christ and the Methodists and other Charismatic Churches, whilst top gospel singers like the “daughters of Glorious Jesus, Ohenemaa Mercy, Gifty Osei and Jack Alolome are billed to grace the sprawling coastal city.


Beach parties and beach activities with live bands are also in the offing.**