The Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Dr Hassan Ayariga, has challenged Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to revisit major markets across the country and engage directly with traders to understand the economic difficulties confronting them.
Dr Ayariga said that although he acknowledged improvements in some economic indicators, he disagreed with the Finance Minister’s assessment of the country’s economic situation, particularly regarding the conditions facing market women and small-scale business operators.
In a statement directed at the Finance Minister, the APC Leader urged Dr Ato Forson to visit major trading centres, including Makola Market in Accra, Kejetia Market in Kumasi and Kantamanto Market, to interact with traders and listen to their concerns.
He argued that such engagements would provide the government with a clearer understanding of the economic realities confronting ordinary Ghanaians, insisting that official economic statistics did not always reflect the experiences of people engaged in daily commercial activities.
Dr Ayariga observed that several traders were complaining about poor sales, declining purchasing power and difficulties in sustaining their businesses, raising concerns about the actual impact of the country’s economic recovery on the informal sector.
He further expressed concern about the growing presence and expansion of Chinese-owned shopping malls, which he said were competing strongly with locally owned businesses and creating additional pressure on indigenous traders.
According to him, the ability of local businesses to remain profitable and competitive should be a major consideration in assessing the performance of the economy, rather than relying exclusively on macroeconomic indicators.
The APC Leader maintained that economic performance should be measured not only by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and declining inflation but also by the purchasing power of citizens, the profitability of local enterprises and the general well-being of the population.
He therefore called on Dr Ato Forson to reconnect with traders and other ordinary economic actors, stressing that direct engagement with market women would help the government appreciate the challenges confronting businesses and identify appropriate interventions.
Dr Ayariga also reminded the Finance Minister of his previous engagements with traders during the administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), challenging him to demonstrate the same willingness to visit the markets and listen to the concerns of business operators under the current administration.
He concluded by insisting that genuine economic recovery must translate into improved business activities, stronger purchasing power and better living conditions for citizens, emphasising that economic recovery must be felt in the markets and not merely reflected in government statistics.
Read the official statement below!
HON. FINANCE MINISTER, PLEASE GO BACK TO THE MARKETS!
Hon. Ato Forson, I acknowledge the progress made in stabilising some economic indicators, but I respectfully disagree with your assessment of the situation facing our market women.
I challenge you to visit Makola, Kejetia, Kantamanto and other major markets, just as you did during the NPP administration. Go and listen to the market women yourself. You may be surprised by what they will tell you.
Many traders are complaining of poor sales and declining purchasing power, while Chinese-owned shopping malls are expanding and competing strongly with our local businesses.
An economy cannot be judged by GDP growth and inflation figures alone. It must also be measured by the purchasing power of citizens, the profitability of local businesses and the well-being of ordinary Ghanaians.
Mr Minister, economic recovery must be felt in our markets, not only reflected in government statistics.
Dr Hassan Ayariga
APC Leader
