Kumasi residents express low expectations for Christmas this year | Social

The year 2020 has been a year many will remember around the world after the coronavirus pandemic epidemic that left many economies in shambles.

Economic activities in Ghana came to a virtual halt when the government put measures in place to contain the spread of the deadly disease after the country recorded its first case on March 12.

The closure of schools, markets, hotels, pubs, beaches, shopping centers and other public places that allowed mass gatherings of people resulted in the loss of jobs, especially in the private sector.

It is on the back of the adverse effect of COVID-19 on the finances of the population that the Ghana News Agency (GNA) sampled the opinions of Ghanaians in the central business district of Kumasi to find out expectations. of the population on Christmas Eve.

Many respondents who spoke to the GNA expressed low expectations for the Christmas season, citing the effect of COVID-19 on their businesses and the uncertainties surrounding the general election which has just ended.

These feelings touched those who were in town for Christmas shopping as well as shopkeepers hoping to make good sales on the last day before the Christmas holidays.

Mr Okyere Darko, a businessman, said business was slow in forcing him to fire some of his employees, with those who kept their jobs receiving half their wages.

“I don’t think Christmas will be exciting like in previous years because people don’t have the purchasing power to make the season a memorable one,” he said.

Ms Gloria Kankam, a trader from Kumasi Central Market, said Christmas was about celebrating, so she expected people to celebrate despite the economic hardship that was not unique to Ghana.

Shoe maker Sago Dennis, however, said the disagreement between the two main political parties over the election results could spoil the beauty of the Christmas celebrations.

For Ms. Elizabeth Oppong, a private school teacher, how to provide three square meals for herself and her 10-year-old daughter was a tall order, so making it happy this holiday season was a side issue for her.

She said they survived on her half-pay which could barely take care of food let alone other Christmas necessary items.

Mr Michael Menako, a former hotel employee who was laid off as a result of COVID-19, said: ‘I was the breadwinner of my family of nine, but now that I have lost my job, the last thing in the spirit is Christmas ”.

Dzifa Togbe, a chief porter at Kejetia Market, said she will not be going home for Christmas for the first time due to her low income in recent months.