Loose Morals At Trade Fair

Information reaching The Chronicle has indicated that the recent International Trade Fair was marred by violence and inappropriate sexual behaviour, induced by consumption of large quantities of alcohol.

Some church members who claimed to have witnessed lewd and drunken behaviour made a number of complaints to the Chief Executive of the Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC), Ms. Esther Ofori.

When The Chronicle investigated these allegations, the security co-coordinator Major Agbeko-Sedziafa, admitted that "in previous years, condoms were flying all over the place," but claimed that, since the entry price was raised this year, there was no longer a problem of that sort.

He said that Trade Fair officials had raised the entrance fee to ?10,000 at the recent fair to deter potentially rowdy young people and to improve behaviour. Local church members do not feel that this policy was a success.

Mr. Lawson B. Gidigasu, GTFC Technical Director, told the paper that he was concerned about the reputation of the company. However, he was not confident that his organisation could curb the problems; "I don't see how we can control hundreds of thousands of people."

Mr. Gidigasu turned on those church members, who made the allegations, stating: "I don't think they've achieved anything by doing that." He feels that it is the role of the Church, rather than the Trade Fair, to police drunken youths; "I expect that, as the Church, they should call them over and talk to them."

The Technical Director also attempted to absolve the GTFC of any responsibility for the underage drinking, believed to be prevalent at the fair.

He claimed it was the responsibility of the breweries to ensure that they only sold their products to adults and not to children under 18.

Mr. Gidigasu also blamed the schools, which organized trips to the Trade Fair, many of whom did not adequately supervise their children, but instead they simply "let them loose" once inside the Fair.

Major Agbeko-Sedziafa expanded on this theme by describing how schools did not do enough to prevent students changing out of their uniform. He explained that without their uniforms it was impossible for his security team to monitor their behaviour.

Both men felt that while there were some problems at the last Trade Fair, there was little more that they could or would do.

Mr. Gidigasu concluded, "even if you bring in thousands of police, they will still have places to hide."