The Yuletide season finally begins in Accra

For the Yuletide, thousands of people have thronged the central business centre of Accra for last minute shopping and this has created both vehicular and human traffic jam.

Shop owners also in anticipation of the festivities have loaded their shops with goods whilst others have flooded the street corners, markets and super markets with Xmas items.

Ghana News Agency tour of some markets and principal streets observed that the usual atmosphere has changed with the city beaming in the Christmas mood, as most markets, restaurants, hotels and government agencies have all been decorated to suit the yuletide season.

At the Madina market, one of the commercial hub of the city, traders have taken advantage of the festive occasion and in their bid to take advantage of the situation, pavements and every available space, around the market have been occupied with their wares.

Christmas trees could be seen at key points of the market and to crown it all, Christmas carols could be heard being played from loud speakers positioned at strategic location in the market to entertain people.

Some of the traders who spoke to the GNA expressed satisfaction for the massive crowd turn out saying “business is booming even though at a slow pace”.

At the Nima market the situation is not different as many taxis and other commercial vehicle drivers have taken advantage of the situation and increased their fares because of the traffic congestion which has characterized the festive occasion.

Some taxi drivers only respond to hiring services popularly called "dropping," GNA also observed as the drivers concentrate on the hiring service... several shoppers have been made stranded standing in long queues under the scorching sun.

Many shops, especially those who sell children's wear, are filled to capacity by anxious parents, while other traders are busily selling their wares.

Some traders who spoke to the GNA expressed their happiness about the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted saying it would have been boring if the election had ended in a run-off.

Traders said despite persistent calls on drivers not to take advantage of the season to charge exorbitant prices, most of them have increased the fares.