Businesses Want End To Ban On Social Gathering

Local event planners, dressmakers and beauticians are hoping the ban on all public and social gatherings will be lifted to rescue their businesses from collapsing.

They explained that demand for their services had declined as a result of the restriction, which has been in place since March 15, as an intervention to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The ban ends on Sunday, May 31 and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hinted that he will announce a road map to ease the restriction.

In an interview with some owners of businesses affected by the restriction, most of them said they were looking forward to the restrictions being eased.

Those in the events planning sector said they were ready to strictly enforce the safety precautions in their operations if the restrictions were lifted.
 
“For some time now, the duty bearers have been telling us that it seems the virus has come to stay with us and so life must go on. If that is the case, then I expect them to lift the ban so that our businesses can bounce back.

“It has really impacted my business. We had events lined up every week from April to June, but all those were cancelled and I have had to spend most of my savings,” Maame Ekua Eshun, an event décorator and planner, said.

An event planner, Mr Hayford Kipo Telli, was of the opinion that the precautionary measures put in place were enough to help stop the spread of the disease and subsequently save their businesses.

“ I believe the safety measures are standard. The problem is the enforcement. If people will comply, I’m sure it will be safe for us to hold events and save our businesses,” he stressed.

An undertaker, Ms Araba Awotwi, also said, “though there was an exemption for private burials, most people cancelled the reservations because they also postponed the burial and funerals of their dead loved ones. The restriction has affected us.”

Small businesses

While many people in the fashion design industry had resorted to producing nose masks to earn some income, they said it was not enough to sustain their businesses.

A fashion designer, Ms Amanda Kangme Sumabe, said the pandemic had forced her to operate from home, thus reducing the usual number of clients she received.

A caterer, Maame Efua Addison, said she had to lay off some staff as there were no events to cater for.

“ I have about 10 people under my employment and we had orders to cater for events on a weekly basis. Currently, no one is placing orders so I have asked them to stay home.

“I’m, therefore, expecting that the ban at least on social gatherings will be eased considerably if not lifted all together, so we can get back to business,” she stated.

Kofi Asiedu Tenkorang, who provides music and sound for events, said the business thrived on events and with the ban in place, they had to find other means to survive.

“The President himself has said that the ban cannot be in place for a long time, it is about time things opened up. Certainly events must be allowed, else things will get worse financially for some of us as I have almost used up all my savings to keep my home,” he said.

Impact

The Manager of JDAS Klothing at Teshie-Nungua, Mr John Dadzie, also said he had laid off three of his workers as clients were not placing orders for clothes.

“The demand for making garments for occasions is very low, and some of the fabric retailers I buy bridal fabrics from are not able to supply me with what I need as the borders are still closed,” he said.

Another, who is a member of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA) and Manager of Emm’s Fashion, Mrs Emma Ghalley, also noted that some clients had refused to pay for clothes they ordered as they claimed they did not have events to attend.

She,however, indicated that the association had compiled the list of members to the National Board and Small-Scale Enterprises (NBSSI) to enable them to access the GH¢600million stimulus package the government had made available to support small and medium-scale businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Source: Daily Graphic