Trading at the Madina Market in Accra has taken a nosedive after the good sales experienced during the Christmas and New Year period.

Scores of traders, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, revealed that sales are usually better during the yuletide, however, business activities tend to slow down after the festive occasion in January before kick-starting gradually in February.

A trader at the market, Ms. Veronica Narh said that this was the usual trend, as most people tend to spend more money during the festive period than at the start of the new year.

“We have adjusted to that traditional routine of making good sales in December and hitting dry sales in January.”

“Unfortunately, this year, the dry season for the business started too early, just within the first week of the month, normally it starts from the second and sometimes the third week of the month, and we have a long way to the end of the month,” she said.

Madam Ruth Mensah, who sells sanitary pads and diapers among other things, explained that the goods traders engaged in also determined whether the yuletide could affect their sales or not.

“There are seasonal and occasional items and daily normal life goods and services. Those of us who deal in normal daily life goods and services are handicapped during festive seasons because sales remain at the average, so you either jump the boat to join the seasonal goods for bumper harvest or you remain traditional to your normal trade,” she said.

Madam Mensah was optimistic that things would change, especially as schools were re-opening, because most of her items were for students.

A fruits seller, Mr. Ebenezer Teye said: “All my goods are going bad, I’m afraid I will run at a loss if this continuous”.

Other traders who mainly deal in foodstuff also confirmed that sales were good during the Christmas but slowed down after the celebration.