Artisans who ply their businesses within and around the Suame Magazine Industrial enclave are lamenting the current economic hardship is not only affecting their livelihoods but also affecting their marriages
The artisans complain that their marriages are on the verge of collapsing due to inability to cater for their families because of rapid decline of sales. Hence, most of their wives are jilting them.
Whiles pouring out their frustrations on Akoma Maakye‘s People Assembly, one of the artisans who looked angry and furious noted that “hikes in the prices of petroleum products, spare parts and the depreciating nature of the Cedi has worsened our woes. Due to this, we can’t make enough sales so we are unable to take care of our wives and children. In fact this current economic hardship is not only taking a toll on our livelihoods but also really affecting our marriages”.
Another artisan who described himself as Alhasan Alidu, a brake band repairer, disclosed that due to the low sales at the Suame Magazine enclave, all the fitters are converting into scrap dealers because none of them want to sit idle at the shops without any sales at the end of the month.
“We are dying so the government must reduce the numerous taxes on petroleum products to alleviate our plights,” he pleaded.
The artisans, therefore, called on the government and other stakeholders to stabilize the Cedi and take off taxes on petroleum products as a way of cushioning them.
The People’s Assembly is a two-day public forum organized jointly by Akoma FM, Onua FM and Onua TV for citizens to express their views on the current state of the Ghanaian economy and outline challenges they are faced with as citizens of the country.
By Nana Asenso Mensah|Akoma FM|3news.com|Ghana