Business owners in New Juaben South, including timber operators, phone dealers, and mechanics, have decried severe challenges under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, citing issues such as permit denials, high taxes, and harassment.

The affected groups have declared their support for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama.

About 400 timber market operators have complained of persistent harassment and permit denials from the Forestry Commission, which they claim are undermining their livelihoods.

“We are about four hundred here this is what we have been doing to feed our families but recently look around the business is collapsing. Our sources of raw materials are either sawmills or bush cuts. The sawmill one is very capital intensive, and the bush cut one too they are denied permits when we apply yet the Forestry Commission continues to harass us and confiscate our woods. This is collapsing our businesses. What is the essence of THEM when there is no wood on the market for students to use after school are they going to use rubber? So, when NDC comes to power help us solve this," the leader of the timber market operators said.

Phone dealers in Koforidua also raised concerns over high import duties and taxes on mobile phones, as well as frequent police arrests for selling refurbished phones, accusing them of theft.

They also cited the increasing illegal participation of foreigners in retail and phone repair businesses as a major worry.

“We have vowed to work hard for John Mahama to return to power because we are suffering under Nana Addo’s administration. Many of us were NPP but this time around we have changed our minds to support NDC. If the NDC comes they should help us even if it is capital they should give us to revive our businesses. John Mahama built the stores at the Lorry terminal here in Koforidua, but they have now sold the place to a private developer, and they are chasing us out “.

Mechanics at Koforidua Ada Magazine say they are struggling with the rising cost of spare parts, making their services increasingly unaffordable and hence not frequently patronized by customers.

They expressed these concerns when the National Youth Organizer of NDC, George Opare Addo, and his deputies, as well as New Juaben South Parliamentary candidate, Dr. Martin Offei Otu, engaged with local groups. This engagement was part of the lead-up to the “24-Hour Economy Walk” scheduled for today in Koforidua.

George Opare Addo assured that John Dramani Mahama plans to eliminate nuisance taxes imposed on imported goods by the current government, aiming to lower import duties and reduce prices for items such as mobile phones and spare parts.

“John Mahama has assured to remove all nuisance taxes from import duties. Now the mobile phone is everything. It is used for almost everything that computers do so why slap too many taxes on mobile phones? You (Dr.Bawumia) turn around to say you want to give mobile phones to Ghanaians to pay in installments. What we need is jobs where the youth can buy their phones”. Said Opare Addo

He described the proposed “24-Hour Economy” policy as a transformative measure that will provide a conducive environment for businesses to operate around the clock, enhancing production and creating more job opportunities for the youth.

“If many people are gainfully employed patronage to goods and services will increase. There will be a cascading effect on business. That is what the 24-hour economy will do. It is going to create jobs. Currently, the statistical services say in the last six months 18 million out of the 32 million population have slept on empty stomachs due to hardship. This is the level of hardship the NPP has brought unto us.”

Dr. Martin Offei Otu pledged to collaborate with investors to add value to the timber industry by developing new wood products from sawdust, offering additional sources of income for operators.