Following President Akufo-Addo’s ban on all large social gatherings, the Event Vendors Association of Ghana has bemoaned the massive effect on their business.

The group is particularly concerned about its members and clients who have already invested heavily in events scheduled for the next couple of days.

The announcement by the president during his 23rd COVID-19 update to the nation literally brought business to a standstill for event organizers like Kate Hassan.

“A lot of preparations have been made, even people coming from abroad who have postponed their wedding since last year. I have three clients who are coming in this weekend just for their wedding and now there is a total ban. We are lost, and it’s like we are in the middle of nowhere. We don’t know what to do. Clients call us, and we don’t know what to tell them because we are totally blank on what to say or think.”

Ghana’s active COVID-19 case count has crossed the 5,000 case mark while the death toll currently stands at 424.

This sharp increase after a drastic decline late last year compelled the government to reinstate a number of restrictions.

President Akufo-Addo first introduced such Coronavirus-induced restrictions in Ghana on March 15, 2020, in response to the surge in cases then.

At the time, Ghana had recorded six cases.

In the light of the recent developments and government’s communicated actions, the Event Vendors Association of Ghana while applauding the stated position is pleading with the authorities to find ways of preserving their livelihood and that of the many people in the value chain.

Richard Abbey Junior is the Public Relations Officer of the Event Vendors Association of Ghana, and he spoke to Citi Business News.

“I know we are facing the issue of daily bread and death, but we need to look at it and see how we can balance the two, where we still can have our daily bread and control the COVID-19 virus. So the President’s statement I can say is from a father figure point of view and also from the point that there is safety rather than us being sorry. But to the extent that the very informal sector who are members of Event Vendors Association of Ghana, including carpenters, painters, florists, DJs etc are all gone down because this [ban] is an indefinite one.”