Covid-19: Closure of land borders in Ghana paralyses economic activities
The decision to close land borders in Ghana had a serious impact on the country’s economic activities. As a result, many businesses have gone under since last March. So small traders are in agony.
The Covid-19 pandemic since its onset has seriously crippled many economic activities. As a result, the country’s economy is in free fall, even in recession. For now, the epidemiological situation in the country seems to be under control. Ghana has a total of 55,000 cases.
Business in free fall
« It’s bad, it’s very bad, » complains Habib Haïdara, director of a fuel import-export company. For him, the fact that land borders are open for the movement of goods, but not for the movement of people, is a serious handicap for business.
And technically, the hindrance created by the closure of land borders in Ghana is great. Many traders have lost half their business. « This affects our business, because to import or export, we sometimes have to travel ourselves to negotiate, to meet our partners, » he explained.
Significant loss of customers due to the closure of land borders in Ghana
In addition to the drop in activity, the closure of land borders in Ghana has also led to a real loss of customers for some companies. Thus, several small structures have had to close their doors for good. This reinforces the state of poverty in the country.
« My turnover has been halved. It’s not right anymore », said Ousseynou Geye, owner of a Senegalese restaurant. To survive this crisis, he was forced to adopt new methods to keep up. « Because of the pandemic, I only work online. People call, I deliver, » he said.
Read more: Fermeture des frontières guinéennes : que cache cette décision unilatérale?
