Traditional commerce seems not to be the only sector suffering the pinch of Ghana\u2019s economic meltdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the oldest professions, commercial sex work, is also bearing the brunt of the current downturn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Players on the streets of Accra have been compelled by the prevailing economic situation to increase the price of their services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The majority of them are from countries such as Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Liberia among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until recently, many of them say they had been charging \u00a250 for a short session that lasts between 15-20 minutes and as much as \u00a2300 for a full night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite their courageous approach to the trade, they always meet some clients who make them question their choice of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome people don\u2019t cum quick. If you know you don\u2019t release early you have to give her more money. You have to pay the girl well to make her happy,\u201d one of the workers told JoyNews<\/strong> on the streets of Lapaz, a suburb of Accra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven though you did him fine, as far as he did not cum he will say you did not do it well and will not pay you more than the agreed price.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, their woes are worsening and the reason emanates from the most unlikely of sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fuel prices have crossed the \u00a210 mark affecting prices of commodities while the dollar has also seen a record-high appreciation to the cedi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the face of all these conditions, sex workers in the capital told JoyNews that they are not in the position to satisfy their clients at the same rates they initially charged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A report filed by Latif Iddrisu revealed that many of them have increased their charges by up to 100%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lapaz, Cantonments, Osu, East Legon are a few hotspots for the trade.https:\/\/72a3a87fb6b1d31be91a7498b5d1cb52.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-38\/html\/container.html<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of them, Vivian, said though sales were slowing down gradually, her income saw a brief uptick at some point in December last year as she \u201cwas taking \u00a2200 for short.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the new year came with a very uncomfortable situation, creating the need for a commensurate upward adjustment in her charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere has been an increase in goods lately. To pay my rent is difficult now and because of that, I have increased my price,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFood these days is very expensive. I clothe myself, and the rest of that. So I can\u2019t reduce my price.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But this insistence on not backing down on her new rates is now beginning to cut both ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is because the same financial challenges that the country is facing are holding her clients from seeking her services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is chasing my clients away,\u201d she lamented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She pleaded with authorities to provide austerity measures that will ensure a flourishing economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThings have become very difficult for us so they should reduce of some of the goods. Even the ones that are on the street and company workers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to communicate key measures and reliefs sanctioned by government to recover the economy later this week, after a crunch three-day Cabinet retreat chaired by President Akufo-Addo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Information Ministry, details on some of the reliefs will include the reopening of land borders, the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, and measures to arrest the depreciating cedi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these interventions are yet to kick in, clients of these sex workers may have no option but to find a middle ground between satisfaction and financial muscle<\/p>\n\n\n\n But for their rates, the only way is up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n