Phone Dealers Take Over Circle Pavements

By Esther Awuah

The sale of mobile phones and accessories by hawkers on the pavements around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra appears to have intensified.

Initially, the activities of these traders who sell their wares on trays and tables, was centred at the Tip Toe Lane and the former Vodafone head office area but they have extended their activities to the newly-constructed over-pass and the pavements that lead to Obra Spot.

When CITY& BUSINESS GUIDE visited Kwame Nkrumah Circle yesterday, business was booming as buyers bargained for the best deals.

In an interview with this paper, a shop owner, Steven Aboagye of JIC'5 Phones, said the activities of the hawkers had affected his business for the past four years.

He explained that “most of the phones and accessories that are being sold by these boys are not of good quality and since most people do not know the difference between a quality phone and an inferior one, they would prefer to buy from the boys since theirs are cheaper.”

These boys do not stay at one location so tracing them becomes a problem in the event where the phone develops a problem.

He therefore advised buyers to purchase phones from recognized shops so they could easily change the phones in an event of a problem.

Another mobile phone dealer, Isaac Osei Wusu also attested to the fact that his business was collapsing because of the activities of the phone hawkers.

He stated that “the situation is becoming very worrying, as most of these dealers are also pilferers. Most of the phones they sell are stolen ones, so they can afford to sell them at reduced prices.”

He therefore called on the police to remove them from the pavements since they were operating without permits.

However, Michael Ampomaa, who displayed five phones on a tray, said he was introduced to the trade by a friend.

He expressed the hope he would establish his own shop in future.

Michael, who makes an average sale of GH¢300, noted that he gets most of his genuine and brand new supplies from a friend who buys them from China.

Asked why phones sold on pavements were less expensive as compared to those in the shops, Michael stated that the phones are sold on a “reduce to clear” basis, which attracts more patrons.

There have been several raids by the police and Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to remove these hawkers from the pavements, but they resurface the next day to engage in the business.

Michael however appealed to the law enforcement agencies to be lenient in dealing with them.