Nkawkaw: Small scale businesses still suffer economic impact of covid-19

Small and medium sized business (SME) owners in Nkawkaw, Kwahu East District, an area in south Ghana's Eastern Region claim that the COVID-19 crisis' economic effects are still being felt there.

This was revealed at a town hall meeting at Nkawkaw that was organized by the civic group, BudgIT Ghana in collaboration with OXLADE Consulting and Open Foundations Society on the OSIWA Project.

In order to have reliable information to support the rehabilitation of these enterprises, the OSIWA project aims to analyze the post-economic resilience of small-scale businesses in the nation. The town hall meeting was on the theme: “Pre and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Socio-Economic Resilience Strategies: Impact and Lessons from Stakeholders.”

Mr. Khiddir Iddris, Research and Program Lead at BudgIT Ghana, discussed the contribution of his organization and stakeholders to enhancing vaccination equality and health system accountability in Ghana through research and local and institutional engagements.

He claimed that government, like others throughout the world, continues to play a critical role in protecting individuals and organizations from the pandemic and its negative economic effects. Mr. Iddris stated, "It's crucial that we analyze the socio-economic resilience of enterprises and the relief packages that the government has provided so far."

Participants discussed their experiences both during and after the Covid-19 period, placing particular focus on their businesses' adaptation and coping mechanisms, employment and working conditions, effects on wages and incomes, impacts on food consumption, borrowings and asset holdings, and the extent of government support.

The queen of Nkawkaw, Mama Rose Dedaa noted that even now, "we're yet to totally recover from it," adding that the economic impact on their businesses during the height of COVID-19 and aftermath has been significant.

The Secretary to the Small and Medium scale businesses, Mr. Emmanuel K. Osei, lamented that “We received no assistance from the local Assembly or from the national”.

Several Participants claimed that the government's trade restrictions and confinement measures caused a halt to their daily economic activity.

According to them, they received no assistance to help them cope with the financial burden.

"We're still feeling the heat, and now that this organization has come to hear our worries, I'm hoping that something constructive will happen," a 48-year-old foodstuffs vender, Madam Boatemaa Rita stated.