The opposition People’s National Convention (PNC) is appealing to all traders to open their shops as the current situation rather exacerbates “the prevailing difficulties in the country”.
In a statement issued by General Secretary Janet Asana Nabla on Thursday, October 20, the PNC said the timing for the three-day closure of shops is not the best.
“Worsening Cedi depreciation against the major currencies leading to inflation and loss of capital by traders is very worrying, but this is not the time to throw our hands in despair.
“More importantly, when we all know that the country is facing revenue inflow challenges and hence, the government is in negotiation with the IMF for a deal to restore revenue flows.”
Traders, most of whom are members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), were instructed to close shops from Wednesday to Friday to protest the high cost in doing business.
The traders claim the falling Cedi on the international trade market is affecting their business adversely.
“The PNC is not holding brief for the government, we believe that, it is in difficulties such as this, that sacrifices are required to be made by all citizenry.
“It is our fears that, if sacrifices are not made now, more challenges would come our way if we continue to point accusing fingers at one another, without doing anything as the years go by.”
The party has also appealed to government to hold a national forum “to help come out with an all–inclusive and acceptable blueprint to tackle this economic problem”.
“The national forum should bring together all stakeholders such as the academia, business owners, political parties and development partners.”
It also appealed to the media to dedicate some airtime in discussing solutions to the current problems and avoid lamentations.
Finally, the PNC urged government to “hasten to get a deal with the IMF as a short–term measure, whereas focusing on intensifying industrialization agenda to win us off too much import dependency”.
“This must be done religiously to avoid these cyclical problems.”