Hand sanitizers, the use of which was alien to most Ghanaians, has now become the most patronized item in the markets and other retail outlets.

The item is now sold on the streets of Accra and other urban areas especially in traffic jams in the cities.

A Ghana News Agency (GNA) survey in Accra and Takoradi showed that the Ebola scare had raised the demand for hand sanitizers as both adults and children carry it in their pockets and in their bags.

Madam Akua Denkyi, a cosmetics seller at Laterbiokorshie, told the GNA that before the outbreak of the disease in West Africa, she sold an average of 10 sanitizers a month but she now sold an average of 400 in month.

"Last week I brought in 200 pieces and as at this moment I have only 15 pieces left and need to bring in more in order not to run out of stock today," she said.

She said the high demand had also increased the price of the item from GH¢ 2.00 to an average of GH¢4.00 per 50 ml container.

Mad Akua Frema Darko, a wholesaler of sanitizers, told the GNA that she had to reduce her importation of cosmetics and channel more of her resources into the importation of the personal hygiene product as the demand for it was growing daily.

"Now I import an average of 20 cartons of sanitizers a week compared to the two cartons that I brought in weekly," she said.

She said apart from individual vendors who bought from her, some corporate organisations regularly purchased the product, making the business the most attractive in the country.

Mr Ifeanyi Okechoku, a Nigerian perfume trader at Tudu, told the GNA that he was initially not engaged in the sale of hand sanitizers until his customers requested for the commodity on daily basis “and since I started selling it I haven't regretted because sales are very good."

He said a lot of the people had gone into the sale of the item because of the demand but added that the demand could reduce if the Ebola scare fades off.

At Takoradi, Ms Araba Duncan, a hand sanitizer vendor, told the GNA that before the Ebola outbeak, she sold toys on the street but realized that the sale of hand sanitizers was moving faster and was more profitable.

Mr Jonas Agbenyegah, a health worker at the Mamprobi Polyclinic, has cautioned the public to be mindful of where they bought the item as unscrupulous people could take advantage of the opportunity to sell fake hand sanitizers.

The Ebola disease continues to claim lives in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Liberia, a situation that has spurred neighboring countries to step up their education programmes.

Although Ghana has not recorded an Ebola case, the country has stepped up awareness and health officials have prescribed the frequent use of hand sanitizers.