The sale of coins on tables along the street and at lorry stations has become a novel business for people.
Usually, the coins are tied in a nylon bag or arranged on top of tables, and sold to public bus conductors popularly called ‘mates,’ and other vendors.
According to the coin traders, they make between 300 and 400 Ghana cedis a day, which makes their business lucrative, adding that one percent is made on every amount they exchange for coins.
The business on the other hand has its ups and downs. Most times, business becomes slow during the rainy seasons.
Madam Felicia and Master Kwesi Blay are coin traders in the Metropolis, and they shared with Beach News the challenges and gains associated with their business.
” We get some of the coins from the Aboboyaa drivers and also from the banks. We exchanged 10 cedis for 9 cedis. The only setback nowadays for the business is the rain. Our main customers are commercial drivers and food vendors. When you exchange 100 cedis, you get a profit of 10 Ghana cedis. And sometimes, people change high amounts of between 200 and 500 Ghana cedis,”
” I got the coins from the Bank. We work with drivers so the more people board vehicles, the more our business is lucrative.
Nowadays the business is not as lucrative as compared to when it started first.
This business is cash and carry so we don’t run at a loss but it’s not lucrative nowadays.
I engage in this business because I must work to get money to take care of myself and my family. “
” When it rains, people don’t go out to board cars for the drivers to change their money for them. When it happens like that get sales at all.
Our interest is very small.
We only deduct 10pesewas but those at Accra deduct 20pesewas, so we don’t earn much as compared to those who do this business at Accra.”
