Advertisement

We need peace to take care of our children -Traders appeal

Some of the women stressing the need for peace in the country. We have nowhere to go should anything happen after the Supreme Court verdict.“Our children are young and our politicians should not forget that whatever they do during and after the court ruling will affect us positively or negatively. Ghana is our only home. We are appealing to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to put the country first as we await the court ruling.”

These were the sentiments expressed by some women traders at the Kaneshie, Kantamanto and Makola markets in Accra when the Daily Graphic sought their opinion on the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the 2012 presidential election petition.

We have one country, Ghana

One plea that ran through the remarks of the women was that children, the sick and pregnant women were the vulnerable in society and they suffered most in times of violence, for which reason politicians should accept the verdict, whichever way it went.

Casting her mind to the conflicts in some African countries, including Mali and Cote d’Ivoire, in recent past years, Madam Kukua Oppong, a yam seller at the Kaneshie Market, lamented, “We have only one country, and that is Ghana.”

“We cannot let politicians take Ghana from us. We should all live in peace and unity during and after the ruling. We also pray that God will give the judges divine wisdom to make the right pronouncements. Supporters of the parties should not jubilate after the ruling,” she added.

She said politicians and political activists should bear in mind that “it is God who installs a king and so we should all support whoever God gives to us as President and stay as one people”.

She urged the media to be cautious in their reportage in order not to create panic and fear and rather play their watchdog role by reporting the truth.

Mrs Olivia Nyarko, a coal pot seller at the Kaneshie Market, said the country had become a peace icon on the African continent, hence the need to maintain the peace.  

“Some of our neighbouring countries are living in fear because they have experienced war. But we have not and so we should maintain the peace and unity and prove to them that we are different,” she added.

Auntie Yaa Owusuaa, a tomatoes seller also at the Kaneshie Market, said she had three children aged between two and 15 and that it would be difficult to carry them along in case of any violence.

“Ghanaians and political parties should support and accept whoever the judges will declare the winner of the petition,” she urged.

We want peace, and nothing but peace.....

A section of the Makola Market women who gathered when the Daily Graphic got to the market said, “We want peace, and nothing but peace is what we want from our political leaders and the Supreme Court verdict.”

A woman who described herself as Anointing said the country needed peace for the sake of children, pregnant women and the aged.

“We are pleading with all Ghanaians to accept the verdict for the sake of women, children, the aged and the sick,” she appealed.

At the Kantamanto Market, Madam Comfort Asante noted that traders who lost their livelihood not too long ago as a result of the fire outbreak at the market were still struggling to get back to business.

“We can, therefore, not afford to entertain any form of violence after the verdict,” she added.

Although she believed nothing would happen, Mrs Theresa Owusu, also at the Kantamanto Market, urged Ghanaians not to allow politics to come between them and the God-given peaceful atmosphere.

Judges should give fair judgement

Some of the traders also appealed to the judges to make a fair and just pronouncement, since it was the only way to calm the nerves of Ghanaians and their expectations.

“The only way nerves could be calmed and for peace to be maintained is for the verdict to be fair and just, so it is my prayer that God will take control, through the judges, to give a perfect judgement,” a trader at the Kantamanto Market, Mrs Monica Addae, stated.

“There could be only one truth and the truth should be said by the panel of judges sitting on the case,” Ms Vivian Nyarko, a trader at the Kaneshie Market, said.

Madam Hannah Marfo, a trader at the Makola Market, added that the judges should be just and fair.

By Salomey Appiah/Daily Graphic/Ghana

Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |