HOW THE POOR WOMEN ARE MALTREATED

Most times when we walk into big malls, boutiques, supermarkets, we never question their prices, even though we vehemently know some of the prices are stupid, and fleecing. We pay exactly what we see on the price tags and even hand out tips to the staff. But the moment we are out of these shops and want to buy banana, maize&groundnut, plantain etc our bargaining competence gets off to the roof. Poor widow with 3 hungry children or young teenage girl tells you banana is c3.00. She even takes out her time to explain how difficult it was for her to even buy it, how the economy is so tough, and which you even attest to. She does all she can.............

in convincing you to buy, cos if you walk away, a child's breakfast and school canteen walk away with you. But you insist that if it's not c1.00 or c1.50p, you are not paying. Some of us even step back into our cars and make to drive away, knowing she needs the money and will call us back, and alas, because she still needs something for Paraffin, this woman is forced to run after you and call you back and sell to you at little or no gain, hurt in her heart. she may cry within, she may be worried about how she'll survive with her children. When people dont buy, the children may, in place of proper diets, eat those bananas lest they get spoiled to further loss. She silently reassures herself that 'It's well, God will definitely provide'', whether she sells at profit or loss! God will provide, thats how most Ghanaians are, you know. They seek solace in God in victory and in defeat and loss and hunger. While you happily eat the fine banana, you bought on the terms of competent bargaining qualification, take some seconds out and think about this, guys. I see people who genuinely and helplessly hawk petty goods to feed and survive for that day, especially women and children. Please don't "bargain hard" with them, if you can, with small vendors like this. Most of them do business not to buy designer bags, Gucci shoes and designer clothes but to LIVE and EAT for just that day and the children share the remaining money to take to school the next day (that's if there's any left). It is a form of giving and helping; it is a way of sharing prosperity; it is a way of letting others see God's Light through our light because it shined on them to also shine. You don't have to be forcefully compliant with this advice, if you can't really help it, but whatever the case may be, let empathy rule your bargaining. And keep in mind, in the moment you stand there, as a barrier between profit or loss; satisfaction or hunger, you represent the answer to the prayer she offered to Heaven for bread. For was Ghandi wrong, when he said that some people are so poor and hungry that the only way God can show Himself to them is in the form of food and pennies? "He who gives to the poor lends to his make