The Central Business District of Accra (CBD) remained unusually calm without the normal hustling and struggling for space by motorists and pedestrians after the Christmas Boxing day festivities, a  visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday revealed. GNA observed that most of the streets leading to and from the Central Business District which contain the city's main banks, biggest market, departmental stores and lorry parks, were virtually empty, contrary to the situation on the eve of Christmas. The number of customers, window shoppers, has also reduced drastically, whilst some shops remained closed, but scores of shop-owners who were operating, had mounted loud speakers outside their shops blasting music. Some of the market women described the situation in an interview with the GNA as an annual ritual; “most people after the festivities preferred to stay at home or manage with what was patronised during the festivities. “Life at the market will pick up after some few days...they will come back to buy,” Madam Adorley Sabutey. a cloths seller stated. She said even though the atmosphere is dull, due to the fact that there are no customers, “we are making merry and enjoying the festivities”. Mrs. Emilia Ahiamajor, a jewellery seller said, we anticipated the slow sales after Christmas “that’s why you have to cash in before and during the period...we are now waiting for New Year sales”. Looking physically tired and sweating she said: “I have walked the entire Makola Market but no sales, as if the customers are on break. Business has been poor after the Christmas celebration. However, I hope to make greater sales as New Year approaches”. Some street hawkers who mainly cashed on the traffic jams to make good sales also complained, saying the situation was  affecting their business “on the street, we make good sales in heavy traffic, but now look, the cars are just moving freely,” Kwame Owusu Frempong stated. GNA also observed that Police and Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) City Guides who were spotted at vantage points  before and during the festivity were absent. Scores of police personnel were noted patrolling some parts of the Makola Market, Tudu, Railways Station and the main Aflao station. Most Lorry stations visited were also empty; GNA observed parked vehicles without passengers. In spite of the low patronage, GNA observed that some traders have taken over the pedestrian walk way around the CBD, forcing people to walk on the main road. The market condition iwas exactly the opposite before and during Christmas, when the place was chocked with lots of people and vehicles, which resulted in human beings and vehicles competing for space.  

  The Bia Police have arrested and placed in custody three suspects for illegally dealing in narcotic drugs. They were arrested for possessing 100 parcels of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp at Bamia Cottage in the Bia West District of the Western Region. They are Kofi Karikari, 26, who hails from Nsutre, Augustine Nti, 21, from Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region and Karim Sanah, a farm labourer. Meanwhile, a fourth suspect, Yaw Bamia, the driver of the vehicle, is on the run. The District Police Commander for Bia West and Bia East, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniel Wiafe, confirmed the arrest to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday. He said the police were on routine checks at Sefwi-Adabokrom in the Bia East District on December 21, and spotted an Opel Caravan with Registration Number AW 7371-12. He said when the police stopped the driver, Yaw Bamia and was asked to produce his vehicle documents he sped off and was given a chase, however he managed to escape. On December 23, ASP Wiafe said the police spotted the vehicle at Sefwi-Yametwa and the occupants of the vehicle were arrested. The District Police Commander said when the suspects were interrogated they initially told the police that they were carrying DVD players and second hand clothing, which were offloaded at Osei-Kojokrom. However, upon further interrogation, they confessed that they were carrying Indian hemp which was offloaded in a room at Bamia Cottage. The suspects then led the police to the place to retrieve the 100 slaps of dry leaves. ASP Wiafe said the substance would be sent to the Police forensic laboratory in Accra for examination.