Wa, Dec. 26, GNA - Political activities in the Wa Municipality towards the presidential run-off on Sunday have overshadowed Christmas and rendered the season a non-event in Wa. The presidential candidates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have taken centre-stage and are dominating the airwaves with their messages with very little air time available for Christmas carols and messages.

When the Ghana News Agency went round to capture the mood of the people, most of the residents were seen going about their daily activities as if nothing was happening.

Most of the churches in Wa were not open for worship on Christmas day.

However, functionaries of the NPP and NDC moved in and out of the two FM stations in the town to present their messages to the voting public. Only few people were seen in the livestock market in the centre of the town haggling with the traders about the prices of goats and fowls. Abudu Sumani, one of the traders in poultry and sheep, told the Christmas.

"While there was a rush for goats and sheep especially rams during the Muslim festival, I have sold only four guinea fowls since yesterday and I think it is because of the coming elections as it is occupying everybody's mind", he said.

Madam Memuna Iddrisu, a trader in textiles at the Wa central market, said she did not know that Thursday was Christmas as there was nothing to show, through her sales, that it was a festive period. "All we are hearing from the radio these days is NDC, NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo and Professor Mills and nothing about Christmas", she said. The only sigh of Christmas was at the outskirts of the town where people congregated at drinking spots to share alcoholic beverages with friends and loved ones. 26 Dec 08