Takyi Addo, Public Relations Officer for the Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association, has asserted that partisan politics are a key factor in the prices of spare parts remaining unchanged, despite the cedi’s gains against the dollar and major currencies.
He explained that the majority of spare parts dealers align with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and have refused to reduce their prices as a way of making the government unpopular.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he told host Kwabena Agyapong that some of the traders do not want to reduce their prices for Ghanaians to enjoy the benefits.
He described the situation as troubling, wondering why politics would be allowed into trading activities.
“The partisan political atmosphere in Abossey Okai is a serious issue. The majority of the traders align with or support the opposition party, and so for the current government to enjoy goodwill, they have refused to do so. They have refused to reduce their prices because they do not want the government to be recognised for stabilising the cedi.
Some of them are pained by the gains made, and so only a handful of people have reduced their prices. A lot of these traders benefited from loans from EXIM Bank, MASLOC, and other stakeholder bodies. The current government should also put in measures to support traders with soft loans so they can expand their businesses.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
