THE ROLE OF THE SPARE PARTS DEALERS IN THE AUTO MECHANIC BUSINESS

With the nature of the auto mechanic business, spare parts dealers have also played a vibrant role in the development of the auto mechanic business in Ghana.

For a decade, the auto mechanic business has come across numerous problems in the sector.  More and more people in the industry disclosed that the spare parts business is no longer lucrative as then, and due that, more challenges and problems are being transferred to the auto mechanic business. An interview with Mr. Kenneth Amponsah a spare parts dealer at the Abossey Okai attributed the situation to the fast depreciation of Ghana’s local currency.

According to him, within he mid September last year, the rate of a dollar against the cedi GH 2.20 but now GH2.40, which he said is making it difficult for them to buy parts of vehicles to sell in the country.

He lamented that, if this trend continues, many of the spare parts shops at Abbosey Okai will be forced to fold up as the owners will not be in a position to raise enough capital to buy auto parts. he then urged the government to establish the cedi against the dollar. Just recently, the president of the Association of Youth Auto Spare Parts Dealers (AYAPD) also took the opportunity to remind the government on the need to reduce change and import duties at Tema Habour.

Again, Mr. Kenneth did lamented that another problem that is really facing their business is the invasion of foreign investors in the spare parts business. He said, more of inferior and low quality parts are brought into the country and being sold at cheaper price. Due to that, more Ghanaian auto mechanics go in for the inferior spare parts due to it low price rate.

Explaining his reasons, he said, if customers are unable to buy from the qualified or authorized auto parts shop, it means that, they will buy “damaged and spare auto parts” from the so called auto parts dealers as scrap dealers, who mainly sell bad items. and by that they will end up creating problems in the auto mechanic business and their business as well.