Business activities in the Central Business District of Accra are gradually picking up with just a few days to the Christmas festivities. The general concern of most traders in the city has been the low patronage of their wares and the lack of enthusiasm with which people buy during festive periods such as Christmas.

A possible reason for these phenomena could be attributed to the general outcry of harsh economic situations which seem to be hitting raw nerves of families and all in the country. But some traders The Chronicle spoke with yesterday in Accra's sprawling business district have given mixed reactions as to how business was generally doing.

At the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, some traders gave an indication that business was gradually picking. A footwear seller who gave his name as Kwame Ansong told The Chronicle that sales had improved compared to the previous days.

He recalled that he could sit the whole day without anyone coming in to ask of the price of his wares, but took solace in the fact that people coming to do window-shopping gives him hope that the situation would improve.

Some traders who deal in clothes and cosmetics told The Chronicle that sales at this time of the year is worse, compared to last year which was even an election year, with some giving political connotations to the situation. At the heels of these concerns from these groups of traders is a thriving business at the grocery and gift shops.

There are gift packages and hampers displayed literally everywhere, from large supermarket stores to small room-size shops in containers and the appetite for them seem to increase by the day. Corporate institutions and individuals were seen making huge purchases at these shops.

Perhaps the typical Ghanaian attitude of rushing for last minute buying could best explain the heavy vehicular traffic in town.