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Xmas shopping getting vibrant

 

 

With Christmas trees already on display in the supermarkets and commuters trooping into the central business district of Accra and other urban areas to shop, there is no doubt that the Christmas fever is on.

The Mirror visited various markets in Accra to ascertain how people were getting ready to shop for the Yuletide.

On the streets around the Makola (Central) Market, traders are competing with vehicles and pedestrians for space.

Interestingly, the Kaneshie, Mallam Atta, Nima, Mamobi, Batsona, Odorna and London markets, which are equally big, were not as busy as the central market.

For most people, Christmas is the time to dress up in their best clothes and eat exotic and sumptuous dishes.

It is for these reasons that the shops were all packed with trendy clothes for babies, toddlers, teenagers, ladies and gentlemen of various ages and sizes.

There are two categories of clothes being sold in town — the original designer clothes and the ones known as the Chinese replica.

Original shoes and clothes by designers such as Carters, United Colours of Beneton, Next and Baby Gap for children range between GH¢60 and ¢350, while the Chinese clothes are between GH¢15 and GH¢150.

Top quality ladies’ clothes in some of the boutiques are between  GH¢150 and GH¢1,500 for casual, evening and all occasions wear.

A quality Polo shirt for men is selling between GH¢50 and GH¢200, while shirts are going for between GH¢150 and GH¢350. Suits are also in the range of GH¢500 and GH¢2,000, depending on the designer.

Interestingly, some Chinese shirts for both men and women could be acquired for between GH¢10 and GH¢35.

Currently, both men and women are using wax prints to design shirts, skirts, trousers and the traditional kaba and slit. At the GTP retail shops, half pieces of the Safoa wax prints are selling at ¢40, Nustyle prints for ¢45, while the Adepa print is GH¢60 (for half piece).

VLISCO wax prints is selling at GH¢130 per half piece for the Holland Java, Holland Block is ¢160 while Holland Super is GH¢200.

For those who love Printex, with GH¢35, you can grab six yards for any style or spend about ¢60 for the block which is a higher grade.

Laces of different shades are also in vogue, with some traders selling the materials per yard. A ‘baby’ lace could be bought at ¢20 per yard, while a good Swiss lace is GH¢250 per yard.

Fancy leather and plastic watches for both sexes are selling between GH¢2 and GH¢35. Accessories such as earrings, chains, anklets and hair bands are between 50Gp and GH¢10. Chains and earrings made from copper and Romania gold cost between GH¢15 and GH¢500.

The season has also brought various types of rice on the market. However, a good five-kilogramme perfume rice is selling between GH¢15 and GH¢25, while a 25kg is between GH¢80 and GH¢120.

A five-litre vegetable oil is between GH¢8 and GH¢25, depending on the brand.

For the meat eaters, an average size chicken is between GH¢15 and GH¢35, while a crate of eggs is between GH¢8 and GH¢15. Meanwhile, sheep and goats are selling between GH¢250 and GH¢1,000, depending on their sizes.

At the moment, tomatoes, a key vegetable for soups, stews and salads, are a bit expensive. A paint bucketful of tomatoes is between GH¢12 and GH¢25, while onions sell between GH¢5 and GH¢15.

There are various brands of fruit juices, wine, gin, whisky and vodka being sold on the market. Some of the fruit juices are selling between GH¢5 and GH¢8, while the wines and other top brand liquor are between GH¢15 and GH¢400.

Although the city centre is all packed, the good news is that personnel of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service are at various vantage points around the city ensuring that there is free flow of traffic.

 

 

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