Orange Sellers Request Gov’ts Support

Orange Sellers Association (OSA) in the Greater Accra Region have appealed to the Nana Akuffo Addo-led government to assist their businesses with loans.

According to General Secretary of the group, Mr. Joseph Asare, the move would position the members to expand their business and be a formidable force in the industry.

He said the absence of any loan facility for their business is a major setback to their progress.

Speaking to the THE PUBLISHER on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Association in Accra on Saturday which also coincided with the commissioning of an office for the Association, Mr. Asare bemoaned the high cost of transporting the oranges from the hinterlands to the urban areas.

He said the amount involved in carting the oranges to the cities was crippling their businesses and urged the government to intervene on their behalf to sustain them in business.

He said the government’s intervention was crucial to the sustenance of their business.

Ms. Cynthia Morrison Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, tasked the traders to maintain good human relations with their clients.

She noted that some of the traders do not have customers to patronize their wares because of human relations.

The Gender Minister promised to meet the leaders of the Association as part of measures to assist them to access loan facilities.

The President of the Association Rev. Mary Owusu denied reports of coloring their oranges.

He said the oranges from the members of the Association are healthy adding that traders who are not members of the Association will not be allowed to sell their fruits.

Established in 2017, OSA currently has a membership of over one thousand five hundred in markets among others Kaneshie, Madina, Kasoa, Odorkor, Agbogloshie and Ashaiman number One and Two.

The association seeks among others to be a solid market force in the orange business and to unite the members under one administrative body.

A cross section of the traders at the launch: insert Rev. Mary Owusu cutting the tape to often the office.