Today can report that sales of basic foodstuff and provisions have picked up at various provision stores in the capital city, Accra, as schools have reopened for the next academic term.
Our visit to the central business district (CBD) of Accra (Makola), Kwame Nkrumah Circle and Kaneshie Market saw parents moving from one provisions store to another to buy sanitary products and groceries among other provisional items for their wards who were preparing to report back to school after the festive season.
In an interview with a shop owner, Mercy Akanbantu, at the Makola Mall, she disclosed sales of sanitary pads and toiletries had picked up.
She noted these “those items are essential for girls who stay in the boarding houses.”
Although she admitted that profits on provisions were not much compared to other businesses, she was happy with the way parents were patronising her products.
Another trader, Mrs Adjoa Asare, who sells tomatoes and onions, was not left out in the excitement as she had witnessed an upsurge in her sales.
“Parents are busily buying tomatoes and onions to prepare ‘shito’ for their children who are in boarding schools,” she said.
One Mr Ransford Amonpebi, who bumped into Today, disclosed how much he had spent on provisions alone for his daughter who is a second year Senior High Student.
He claimed that he had spent close to GHC700 on provisions alone.
Meanwhile, some parents who spoke to Today in an interview expressed worry about the high cost of fees charged by hostel facilities housing their wards.
Mr Seth Ofori, who is an electrician said, he had to pay about GHC 600 rent for his daughter who was not able to get a placement in Accra since the boarding facility was not adequate enough to absorb all the students who got admission in that school.
According to him, before the end of the first term, some of the landlords in and around Koforidua in the Eastern Region where his daughter was enrolled demanded payments from parents in order to reserve rooms for their wards for the new term.
Story: Mizpah ETORMENYE MENSAVIE-AYIVOR
Writer’s email: mizpah.mensavie-ayivor@todaygh.com