Fares, prices go up, as ...

... people rush to do last minute X'mas shopping Takoradi, Dec. 24, GNA - The Christmas fever has once again gripped the people of the twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi, where thousands of people have trooped to the centre of the city for their last minute Christmas shopping, making human and vehicular traffic flow difficult.

Traders have taken advantage of the situation, and in their bid to make high sales taken over pavements and every available space, particularly around Market Circle, the commercial hub of the city, while others have displayed their wares on walls, and on mobile carts.

Many taxi and other commercial vehicle drivers have taken advantage of the situation and increased their fares between 50 and 80 per cent. Others only respond to "dropping" and are not ready to load at their normal stations thus, leaving several shoppers stranded in long queues under the scorching sun for hours.

Pickpockets and fraudsters have a field day and have stepped up their operations in these areas, targeting unsuspecting shoppers. Many shops, especially those who sell children's wear, are filled to capacity by anxious parents, while other traders are busily selling their wares.

Chicken sellers, who hitherto sold their birds for 35,000 cedis have suddenly increased the price of a bird to between 50,000 and 60,000 cedis.