"Positive Change" now "Negative Change"

Some market women the Public Agenda says it spoke to in Accra were divided over the performance of the economy. While some said the government needed more time to improve the economy, others felt the NPP administration could not change the situation.

Although, some of the women were not aware of the presentation of the mid-year review of the budget by the Finance Minister, they had comments on the general performance of the economy.

“The Positive Change promised during the campaign has turned into a ‘Negative Change,” said Patience, a garden eggs seller at Makola Market in Accra. She said market trends indicate that food prices may not go down as the country enters the dry season, as have been promised.

Patience’ neighbour, Mercy shares her opinion. Mercy also selling garden, says the government’s slogan “Positive Change” has been stalled by HIPIC and as such it cannot work. How can a HIPC country change positively? She asked.

Daavi Akpene sells tomatoes. She says the price of tomatoes is high because of Transportation cost and lack of adequate rainfall. However, Akpene believes things will improve should there be adequate rainfall next year.

She said a box of tomatoes now sells at ?350,000 when sometimes it can come down as low as below ?50,000. Yaa Akyaa, a plantain seller was optimistic, “the government says next year the situation will improve, so let us give the government the benefit of the doubt.”