Accra Mall Businesses suffer under High Dollar Rent Charges

The Accra Mall Tenants Association has called on the government to intercede on their behalf in discussions with the management of the mall who charge rent in dollars.

The Registered Tenants Association of Accra Mall has accused management of the mall of going against the directives set by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) according to the law which orders businesses to charge in cedis.

The shop owners stated that despite the relief packages offered them with the onset of the coronavirus, which lasted a month, the burden on them was too much to bear.

President of the Association, Rev. John Baidu Danquah, in a press conference today at the mall pleaded with the government to offer assistance to the association as they try to mediate with the management of the mall over a reduction in rent charges.

“We want them to lower the rent charges, yet whenever we send them petitions they answer back with threatening messages”.

“We are unable to pay the rent, as they charge in dollars. An estimated 2000 personnel are employed here and they will leave if we are unable to pay. So we call on the government to lend us aid,” he fumed.

Reverend Danquah stressed that the attitude of management to staff was unpleasant and demeaning as this had further affected the sales at the mall.

“This has been a burden on businesses here at the mall. Every store, shop, brand, and business is affected because of the rent issue and if aid is not brought we may all close down,” he added.

The Accra Mall was one of the first shopping Malls in Ghana, located in the Greater Accra Region on the Spintex road and was commissioned on 4 July 2008