Business in Ashaiman picks up slowly after lifting of restriction

Business activities within the Ashaiman central business area is picking-up slowly after the three-week lockdown imposed on the Greater Accra, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi was lifted by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

President Akufo-Addo in his seventh COVID-19 Presidential address on Sunday, lifted the three-week restriction of movement of persons in Greater Accra Metropolis, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi, effective Monday, April 20.

The busy market area, lorry parks and heavy traffic around the main traffic, which serves as the main entrance to the city was not as busy as usual. Some shops were opened but most of them were closed, at the time the Ghana News Agency visited the place.

GNA observed that commercial vehicles, taxis and motorbikes had hit back on the road doing brisk business, however, most were noticed to be observing the social distancing protocol and the wearing of face mask.

Mr Yaw Akwah a Porter at the Ashaiman Cape-Coast main station told the GNA that, the business was very slow.

He said as at 11:00 hours, the first car was still not full and attributed the situation to the fact that most people did not have money to travel as they have spent all they had during the lockdown period.

He was, however, optimistic that business would get back to normalcy soon, as most people only heard of the announcement this morning.

Mr Ahmed Sule, a trotro driver loading from Ashaiman market to Atadeka said he had to load nine instead of usual 12 passengers due to the need to adhere to social distancing even in vehicles.

He said for the past weeks, he had been at home to avoid being arrested and made to pay a fine.

He said the Police and Military presence during the lockdown deterred most of them from working as usual.

Madam Cynthia Oppong of 3ye Adom Enterprise a Carpet and Mattress seller said she had made some sales and hoped that business would spring back as it was before the three-week lockdown.

Mr Michael Mensah a barber in Lebanon also said the business was slow and the outbreak had affected their business because customers feared that they may contract COVID-19.