It appears Ghana?s defeat by the United States of America (USA) has had a significant effect on the paraphernalia business as some vendors have already started recording low sales.
The sales of Ghana paraphernalia which had already started picking up just some few days to Ghana?s opening game are now going down just two days after the Black Stars 2-1 loss to the United States of America in the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Ghana were hoping to record their third consecutive win over the USA in Natal, when a late John Brooks header restored the American lead after Dede Ayew had pulled level late in the second half.
In an interview with The General Telegraph Business Desk, Joe Mensah, a paraphernalia vendor on the Kanda Highway, said business has not been the same ever since the Black Stars? loss on Monday.
?Business has not been good at all after the USA defeat. I have been standing on the sun the whole day but only three people have bought flag from me since morning. I could sell about fifteen to twenty paraphernalia in a day,? he noted
Another paraphernalia seller on the Oxford Street in Osu, Kwesi Frimpong, corroborated his colleague?s story.
?Things are tough now. Sales were gradually picking up before the match but now they don?t even buy. They would just walk or drive pass us and look at the Black Stars jerseys and if you are lucky they would just ask you of the price but they would not buy.?
The paraphernalia sellers are, however, expectant that their sales will go up again if the Black Stars win the next group game again Germany this Saturday in Fortaleza.
Joe Mensah believes that although Ghana lost their first group game, the performance exhibited by the Black Stars is a confident booster for everyone so people still have hope that the Stars will do well as such their sales would rise again.
?We are praying that the Black Stars beat Germany so our sales go up. All is not lost yet. People still have hope in the Black Stars so they would buy our paraphernalia for us,? Joe Mensah noted.
The Ghana flags that are hanged on the vehicles are currently being sold from GH?5 upwards.
The small flags are sold for GH?2 with the big flags (usually 40?30 inches) selling from GH?10 upwards.
The Black Stars replica jerseys are currently being sold from GH?30 to about GH?60 depending on the area of purchase.
Source: Frank Owusu-Ofori/ The General Telegraph
