Sunyani, Dec 23, GNA - Many residents and traders in the Sunyani Municipality have complained that high fees charged by some private schools had contributed to low Christmas sales.

Traders told the GNA in Sunyani that "parents now understand the valu= e of education and want the best of education for their children and feel reluctant to use their resources to purchase dresses and shoes for the occasion".

Madam Ama Serwaa, a dress and shoe seller, said some parents would have to cough out as much as 300 Ghana cedis for a child in a private school jus= t after the Christmas festivities and school heads would not tolerate excuses from parents.

Mr. Kwame Adu, a parent, corroborated this and said as a salaried worke= r he would not spend all his December salary on dresses and shoes as he would have to pay high fees just after Christmas.

Prices of items have gone up so much that a child's dress is sold at 45 Ghana Cedis, Nada shoes at 15 Ghana cedis, which can be saved and used as part payment when school reopens, he said.

He said 93no responsible parent will buy clothes for the children at t= he expense of their education since children who are the future leaders need something more than the clothes and shoes. Times have changed". Ms Caroline Aboagye, a food vendor, said she was more concerned about paying her children's school fees than anything else and had explained th= e situation to the best understanding of her children.

"I urge all children to bear with their parents who are seeking to of= fer them the best quality education to brighten their future," she said. Madam Margaret Nkrumah, a poultry products seller, said this year's sales were not encouraging even though prices of birds had not been increased much.

She said last year birds were sold at 12 Ghana cedis each and being sol= d at 15 Ghana cedis this year but added that 93the public likes buying thing= s at the last minute and we are hoping people will do more purchasing on Christmas Day".

Kingsley Oduro Nkrumah, sales representative of J.Y Nyamekye Trading Enterprise, said the price of rice, oil and other cooking items were the same as compared to last year but due to the increase in the number of shop= s in the municipality patronage had not been encouraging at the shop. Akua Seida, who sells stationery, Christmas cards and gift items, said patronage had been very poor this year 93because most of the people use internet in communicating to their loved ones and no longer need cards or flowers as gifts". She said the few people who came to her shop also complained of the hig= h prices of the items, especially the decorated toys and left without buying anything.