From the toy gun craze halted by the Police, now to honking vuvuzelas and inflating balloons on the streets, the euphoria of the Christmas festivities is fast catching up in Ashanti Region’s capital, Kumasi.

Young people who are caught up in what they describe as a fun activity say it is a stress reliever from the country’s economic hardships with its mental health implications, while others eagerly anticipate massive jubilations after the elections. 

Traders are already cashing in on the new craze as sales of the toys boom ahead of the Yuletide.

Luv Business gauged the mood in the central business district and the impact of the elections on trading.

It was almost sunset at the Central Business District of Kumasi with traders readying themselves to end the day’s trading activities. 

But an unusual sight in the market was the recent unannounced and indiscriminate honking of vuvuzelas at the market.

Its source? The PZ Lane at the business district. Under these packs of umbrella sheds are young vibrant men engaged in the sale and swapping of mobile phones. 

It all began with a toy gun craze. But the boys were cautioned against its security threats after at least 26 persons were rounded up by the police.  

They have however found a new fun activity to excite themselves and de-stress after the hard day’s work.

“We like to enjoy ourselves. Sometimes the market is bad so this is what we do to de-stress. This is also helping people realize the elections is just a game,” Killa, a vendor at PZ, said.

His friend Abulele added: “People think the boys aren’t serious. But after the days work this is what we do to entertain ourselves”.

The new craze is a ripe market for its vendors even ahead of the usual peak of sales during the Xmas season.

The vuvuzelas are selling at varying prices depending on the size. The largest size sells at 25 cedis, another going for 20 cedis. For the smaller ones, they go for a maximum of 15, 10 and a minimum, 5 cedis.

Joyce sells some of the now most sought-after toys at the Adum market.

She is making huge profits from what she says was initially a slow market.

“When you go to the PZ lane, you’d realize a lot of vendors are switching to the toys. We’ve really bought a lot of these toys to sell. The market is also booming,” she said.

Some street hawkers are diversifying their usual trade to include the toys to items they sell.

Children are compelling their parents to gift them toys even before their Christmas presents. 

“Here, when a particular political party wins the elections, market is really good. But when it goes south, market becomes dull,” Joyce said as traders halt buying on retail in wait for the outcome of the elections.

With an election fast approaching, the Yuletide is setting in early for some revelers in Kumasi. 

“Come to Kumasi. The Ashanti Region is tight. We will celebrate the Xmas regardless of the outcome of the elections,” F05, a trader at PZ, happily urged revelers to come to Kumasi.

Aunt Abrafi who is into cosmetics says she is eagerly anticipating a resounding victory for her candidate to jubilate.

“The you gun craze was in await for Bawumia. But they cautioned us against it. We want the police allow us blow the vuvuzelas now,” she said.

With only a few days to the Christmas festivities and a general election in the offing, December in Kumasi will absolutely be a riveting experience while traders cash in on the season.