Traders welcome President Bush

Accra, Feb. 20, GNA - Traders at various markets in Accra have described the visit of US President George W. Bush as an honour to the country but less beneficial to their immediate needs.

Most of the traders who welcomed visiting President Bush said although it was good he is in the country to strengthen the diplomatic bond between the two countries, direct benefits from the visit was far fetched.

Mr Stephen Anyan, Vice Chairman, Tema Station United Traders Association said: "I do not see any direct and personal benefit of the visit to me as a trader. This is because government has portrayed the country to the international world like everything is good. But we are not alright. City authorities do not meet our concern by refusing us to sell and fend for ourselves and children.

"We are now selling in the hot sun at this green belt area near the Tema Station due to a presidential pardon that allowed us to sell only for the Christmas season. Now we do not know our fate".

Miss Sandra Afaako, another trader at the Tema station urged government to ensure that all Ghanaians benefited from whatever "goodies" President Bush had brought to Ghana.

Madam Afua Annor of the Makola Market said any financial assistance from the visit should transcend into building more markets and stalls for traders to have a place to sell to enable them to pay their taxes as a contribution to national development.

Madam Kate Agyeiwaa, also at Tema Station said assistance should be given to them by either allowing traders at the Tema Station to put up their own sheds at the station or the authorities should provide sheds for them before the rains set in.