By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Keta (V/R), July 10, GNA – Demand for Black Stars jerseys in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region has declined sharply following Ghana’s exit from the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Traders in the municipality reported a significant drop in sales after the Black Stars were eliminated from the expanded 48-nation tournament at the Round of 32 stage following a 1-0 defeat to Croatia.
Mr Sampson Aheto Elikplim, a jersey dealer at Abor, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that business had slowed considerably compared to the period leading up to Ghana’s elimination.
He said fans from various communities had earlier thronged shops to purchase replica jerseys in support of the national team.
Mr Elikplim noted that he had increased his stock in anticipation of a longer World Cup campaign, a decision he now regretted due to the slump in demand.
“Business had slowed considerably compared to the weeks preceding Black Stars’ round of 32 exit,” he said, and added that he had increased his stock in anticipation of a longer World Cup run, which was a regrettable decision considering the sluggish sales.
“When Black Stars were winning, people were rushing to buy jerseys for themselves and their children. Now that the team is out, nobody wants to talk about jerseys again, I have been compelled to reduce the prices from GHS200 to GHS80 to clear the stock still hanging here,” he said.
Mr Wisdom Ahlie, another dealer along the Keta-Anloga Road, said patronage had dropped by more than half since the team’s elimination.
He explained that the excitement generated by the Black Stars’ opening victory over Panama had created expectations of sustained demand, which quickly faded following the team’s exit from the tournament.
Mr Barnabas Agoha, a resident and Black Stars supporter, said the decline in interest in team merchandise reflected the broader disappointment among residents over the national team’s performance at the USA-Canada-Mexico tournament.
He said many supporters who had hoped for a deeper run in the competition felt disappointed by the team’s early exit, a sentiment that had influenced consumer spending on Black Stars memorabilia in the municipality and beyond.
A GNA visit to some shops in the area showed that traders had begun offering discounts ranging between 20 and 30 per cent to attract customers, while others were reluctant to cut prices further for fear of incurring losses.
Some residents, however, expressed optimism that demand for national team paraphernalia could rise again ahead of national celebrations such as Independence Day, when patriotic sentiments often boost sales.
As traders in Keta assess their losses and adjust their stock strategies, the development underscores the close link between the fortunes of local jersey businesses and the performance of the Black Stars on the international stage.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah