Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County –With less than 60 days to Liberia’s presidential and representative elections, the head of Zwedru central market, – the largest in Grand Gedeh county – has called on marketers to vote for development instead of handouts and money.
“During the voter registration period, I encouraged every marketer here to register because I believe there are some candidates in these elections with good plans for this county, for us the market people, and Liberia as a whole. So, l want to urge them to examine people coming to them by their character and platform, not what they have in their hands to offer.” – Etta K. Tweh, Zwedru market superintendent
Madam Etta K. Tweh said the 2017 election is crucial to the development of Liberia, and the outcome would go a long way in improving the business community in the county.
This can only happen if people vote wisely on October 10, she said. Tweh comment comes as political campaigns take center stage across the country with political parties and candidates competing to lure the most support from voters.
“During the voter registration period I encouraged every marketer here to register because I believe there are some candidates in these elections with good plans for this county, for us the market people, and Liberia as a whole,” she said.
Despite the challenges confronting marketers, she said the future would be bright if the right candidates are elected. She encouraged marketers and other registered voters to scrutinize candidates before making decisions.
“So, l want to urge them to examine people coming to them by their character and platform, not what they have in their hands to offer,” she said.
Many marketers in the county say deplorable farm-to-market roads and the increasingly unstable exchange rate between the Liberian and the United States dollars are posing challenges to the growth of small business.
Marketers at the Zwedru central market are concern about the bad farm to market roads and increasing foreign exchange rate between the Liberian and US dollars. They want the next government to solve these issues
The superintendent of Zwedru central market called on members to see the October 10 elections as an opportunity to address the poor condition of the county and the entire country.
“Right now we find it difficult to go buy local products in the districts because of bad roads. There are some people planting corn, cassava and plantain in places like Niao, and other parts of the county, but their crops remain with them and sometimes spoil because no roads to bring them to town,” she explains.
Comfort Tarlue, a bitter-ball seller at the central market, said the condition of the Ganta (in Nimba County) to Zwedru road is of paramount concern to people in the county.
“I and every other Liberian here would be glad if the next government improves the road condition because it will pave the way for free trade and cheap goods and services,” Comfort said.
She said the election is the time Liberians have to bring real change to Grand Gedeh and the entire country, adding, “change will only come if Liberians vote people with selfless motives”.
Meanwhile, the market superintendent called on members of the Zwedru marketing association to show their love for Liberia by serving as agents of peace as the political campaign continues.
She asked them to encourage their children to reject acts of violence while campaigning for their respective candidates.
Alpha Daffae Senkpeni is a multi-media journalist and fact checker with over 18 years’ experience. Senkpeni is the Director and Senior Editor of Local Voices Liberia (LVL) – a network that operates Liberia’s major independent fact checking desk. LVL has implemented several media development projects funded by USAID and the European Union. Since 2021, he has led the organization’s implementation of fact checking projects including fact checking workshops for journalists, media literacy programs, and community forums – all geared toward countering disinformation and expanding the culture of fact checking.
Senkpeni holds a law degree from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and a BSc in Mass Communications from the University of Liberia. He’s also an alumnus of the Radio Netherlands Training Center (RNTC) with a certificate in Digital Content to Counter Disinformation. He has also attended several fact checking trainings.
