All business activities in Kumasi will come to a halt today following a directive asking business operators among others to not undertake any business activities due to the late Asantehemaa’s funeral rites.
With the exception of hospitals, fire service, security, water, ECG and ambulance service providers, all others have been banned from undertaking any business activity.
A number of key sectors of the economy in that part of the country that will be heavily affected by the development include the banking, retail, food and beverage industry as well as other goods and services providers.
As at Wednesday (January 18th, 2017), majority of the banks had prompted clients that they will not be open for business today (Thursday 19th, 2017) and apologized for the development.
UMB for example in a text to customers said ‘due to the late Asantehemaa funeral rites, branches of UMB in Kumasi will close Thursday January 19 and reopen Friday January 20.
Our ATM’s will remain available. We apologize for any inconvenience’.
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But checks by Citi Business News reveal most businesses are not happy with the development.
Operators of some retail outlets who spoke to Citi Business News admitted that Thursdays are one of their very vibrant sale days and the halt in activities will affect their revenue base.
“The closure of shops on Thursday, business activities are really going to suffer. With the type of business we do our busy days are Mondays to Thursdays. So closing our shops the whole of Thursday is really going to affect us.” one trader lamented.
Meanwhile another industry that will be heavily affected by the move is the food industry.
Some food vendors who spoke Citi Business News expressed displeasure with the development.
“Our business will be greatly affected. We cannot even go for some goods we had intended to retrieve. But we will abide by Otumfuor’s order.”
Traders at the various makers also tell Citi Business News they will be recording huge losses following the directive.
“As for the money we will lose a lot. But Otumfuor has spoken so we have to abide by it.”
Meanwhile transport services will still be in operation.
Earlier, VVIP bus drivers who ply the Accra-Kumasi route ditched their work due to low patronage of their service from Kumasi to Accra.
The situation however has since been resolved.
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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
