Even under Akuffo Addo, despite hardship, i sold more plantain than now – Market Trader

According to report by ABNglobalmedia on Tuesday 10, November 2026, a plantain seller at Dome Market has expressed deep frustration with the economic situation under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, blaming the government’s economic policies for what she describes as declining sales, financial difficulties and increasing losses in her trading business.

The trader, who shared her concerns about the current state of the market, revealed that a significant quantity of her plantain has gone rotten because she has been unable to sell the produce. According to her, many customers who previously patronised her business are now struggling financially, making it difficult for them to purchase even basic food items in the quantities they used to buy.

She explained that the situation has become increasingly worrying because plantain is a perishable commodity that cannot remain on the market for an extended period without going bad. Consequently, the inability to attract enough customers has resulted in losses, leaving her with unsold produce and little opportunity to recover the money invested in her business.

Comparing the current economic situation with that of the previous administration led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the trader acknowledged that Ghanaians also experienced economic hardship during his tenure. However, she maintained that her business performed considerably better under the previous government because she recorded higher sales despite the economic challenges at the time.

The plantain seller subsequently questioned President Mahama’s handling of the economy, expressing disappointment over the difficulties she claims ordinary traders are facing. She also strongly opposed any possibility of the President seeking a third term in office, warning that another term could further worsen the economic circumstances affecting traders and other ordinary citizens.

Her comments have reignited discussions about the cost of living, household purchasing power and the economic challenges confronting small-scale traders across Ghana.

The situation also raises questions about whether the benefits of the government’s economic policies are reaching ordinary citizens, particularly market women and small business owners whose livelihoods depend heavily on daily sales.

For many traders, economic recovery is not measured solely by official figures or government announcements but by the number of customers who visit their stalls, the quantity of goods they can sell and the profits they are able to take home.