The ongoing strike by teachers is taking a toll on vendors operating within school premises, with many reporting a sharp decline in sales as student and staff activity drops.
A visit by Adom News to the La Cluster of Schools in Accra showed a significant reduction in activity on campus, leaving vendors who rely on the daily presence of students and teachers worried about their livelihoods.
On a typical school day, the vendors would be busy selling food, drinks and other items to students and staff. However, the teachers’ strike has left the school environment unusually quiet, resulting in fewer customers and reduced income.
One of the vendors said the situation had significantly affected business since the strike began.
“Since the teachers started the strike, sales have gone down. We are not making the kind of money we used to make because there are fewer people on campus.”
The vendors explained that they had stocked food, beverages and other goods specifically to meet the needs of the school community. With fewer people on campus, however, some are struggling to sell their products before the end of the day.
Another vendor appealed to the government and the teacher unions to resolve the impasse as quickly as possible.
“We are appealing to the government to resolve the issue quickly. We depend on the schools for our livelihood, so the longer the strike continues, the more difficult it becomes for us,” another added.
Beyond the financial difficulties faced by vendors, the disruption has also affected normal activities within schools and raised concerns about the broader impact of the strike on students and the school community.
For the vendors, the priority is an early resolution that will allow schools to return to normal operations and restore their customer base.
As discussions continue among the government, the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the teacher unions, vendors at the La Cluster of Schools are hoping the disagreement will be resolved soon.
For them, each additional day of the strike represents another day of reduced sales and lost income.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar.