Black Markets Spring Up At Tema

Buying and selling of foreign currency on the black market in Tema, has become brisk business, especially at the markets and lorry parks. The business is dominated by foreigners mostly from Niger and other parts of Africa. There are also a number of Ghanaians. Age seems to be no barrier for those involved. Young and old men hang about the central business centre as though they are only idling about. The Times newspaper learnt that they adopt such an approach to avoid suspicion of their illegal business. People who deal with them are familiar with the way they carry themselves about. They also attract attention of potential clients by waving the local currencies at passers-by. Alhaji Seidu, a middle aged man who claims to be from northern Ghana, told the Times that he has been engaged in the illicit currency trade for the past two decades and described it as very lucrative and has introduced two of his sons into it.