Exhibitor express worry about low patronage

Accra, Feb. 28 GNA-Many exhibitors at the ongoing 12th Ghana International Trade Fair have express worry for the low patronage from the public, blaming the situation on inadequate publicity. They said this year's fair is on the low profile despite the increase in the number of exhibitors.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, Mr. Allan Elliot an exhibitor from the United Kingdom who sells electronic gadgets said people were not buying, blaming it on poor organization of the fair this year. He however, hoped that when the months come to end and people receive their pay, the situation would change.

Madam Efua Ofosuwaa-Amponsah, an exhibitor said their aim was not to make sales and therefore as people visited their stand they do their best to establish some business contacts. According to her, they have made a lot of contacts and expressed the hope to pursue them after the fair to further promote their business.

"People are not buying at all and all that they say is there is no money in the system", Madam Muti Hackeem an exhibitor of locally said. In an interview with Journalists, Ms. Esther Ofori, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Trade Fair Company explained that, there was a limit to publicity and individual exhibitors were also expected to market their activities to attract customer.

"We have created a certain environment for them where some media houses have made themselves available and they can take their advert to them to market their activities. The Trade Fair authorities cannot market them individually and collectively.

"Basically when the advertisement are carried on the airwaves most of them do no hear or watch because they are busy attending to their business at the fair", she said. About 1100 exhibitors, made up of 900 local and 200 foreign companies from 16 countries are participating.