Wa gets ready for Xmas
All is set for this year’s Christmas celebrations in the Wa municipality. However, unlike last year where the municipality was choked with human and vehicular traffic around this time, coupled with much uncertainty over the results of the 2012 general election, traders and drivers alike are lamenting the sudden decrease in sales and the number of passengers compared to the same period last year.
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Trading
A typical example was last Sunday which was the last Wa market day before the celebration of the Yuletide.
Many traders who shared their views on the "christmas market day" in Wa were of the view that " there is no money in the system."
Mr Kwadwo Frimpong, who deals in electrical appliances and general goods, told the Daily Graphic that this year’s sales had been bad.
He expressed suprise, particularly at the very low patronage of the last market day and said, "I could not sell anything; just look at how the market is dry."
Another trader, Mr Ameen Sulemana, said although this year’s sales did not meet his projections, it was better than not selling anything at all.
Madam Ajara Mahama, a footwear seller, was also not enthused about her sales during the period and said last year’s sales were good.
Transportation
On transportation, many passengers were spotted idling about when this reporter went around the various lorry stations on Monday.
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While other passengers stood by their luggages at the various lorry parks in the Wa municipality anxiously and disappointingly waiting for vehicles to be made available, there were those who looked tired; and had put their heads on their luggages or slept on benches made available at the lorry stations.
It was obvious many of the vehicles that travelled out . As a result, the hitherto hustling and bubbling Wa main lorry park popularly known as " Kejetia" where vehicles and passengers regularly competed for space was virtually empty as of the time the Daily Graphic visited last Monday morning.
The Senior Industrial Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union ( GPRTU) at the main Wa lorry park, Alhaji Nuhu Mahama, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said: " My brother, last year was better compared to this year. Last year by this time we had so many passengers but this year the numbers have gone down."
He advised both drivers and passengers to comport themselves while travelling during the Christmas period and said his outfit was ensuring that no driver took undue advantage of passengers waiting at the lorry park.
"This is because we want drivers to rest after every trip and see to the maintenance of their vehicles. As a result, we have also organised vehicles for passengers who are waiting," Alhaji Mahama indicated and advised passengers to report any undisciplined driver to the nearest GPRTU office when travelling during the Christmas period.
Security Situation
The security situation was, however, very impressive considering the number of police personnel who were patrolling the municipality, especially at the lorry park.
The seeming inactivity at the Wa main lorry park also affected truck pushers, many of whom were seen lying on their tricycles and eagerly monitoring the few vehicles which arrived at the lorry park; it affected head potters as well
Christmas messages
In a Christmas message, the Wa Area Head of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Antwi, charged Christians to allow the lessons from the birth of Jesus Christ to reflect in all their deliberations.
Apostle Antwi quoted Mathew 2:1-12 from the Bible and said the birth of Christ had a historical and spiritual significance which had to do with the motive of King Harold and the wise men who migrated from the east and wanted to worship and acknowledge Jesus Christ upon hearing about his birth and gave willingly.
He said while the wise men had a clear motive during their visit to the birthplace of Jesus Christ, King Harold had a mischievous motive.
Apostle Antwi called on Ghanaians to be true worshippers in serving their God and country.
In that regard, he said people who had ill motives such as king Harold could not succeed in whatever they did.
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A past Lay Chairperson of the Rev Paul Adu Memorial Methodist Church in Wa, Mr Mark Abugnaba, advised Ghanaians to continue to pray and work towards peace in the country.
He said God had been so good to Ghana, especially after taking the country through the last general election without any disturbances and called on the people to be more united during and after the Yuletide to sustain the peace.
"Christmas celebrations have come and gone but this time around Christians must not just celebrate Christmas but rather reflect and ensure that the celebrations impact on their lives positively," he noted.