Small scale businesses and petty trading in the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District are collapsing as a result of increases in revenue and tolls by the district assembly.
Mr Ernest Agorh, Secretary to the Suhum Traders Union, made this known to the Ghana news Agency at an emergency meeting held by members of the union at Suhum on Monday
He said apart from the increases, the assembly had also increased property rate resulting in the increase in rents by landlords and land ladies.
Mr Agorh said house owners were collecting huge rents from tenants and those who were not able to pay were being ejected.
Mr Edmund Narh Kofi, Secretary of the Jato ASkpeteshie Distillers' Association, said as a result of heavy tax imposed on distillers over 300 of them had stopped distilling.
He said "Jato" had been in the distilling industry for over 40 years now and were exporting their product to some neighbouring countries.
Madam Dora Ankamah, a trader, expressed concern about recent killings at Suhum and no arrests had been made so far.