'Ahokyere' demonstration on Wednesday, January 26

Accra, Jan. 19, GNA - The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) a political pressure group on Wednesday announced its planned peaceful mass demonstration dubbed 93Ahokyere Demonstration," on Wednesday, January 26 in Accra.

AFAG's demonstration is to register the group's protest against the government's harsh economic policies and compel it to consider a reduction of the recent 30 per cent increase in fuel prices to lessen the economic burden of Ghanaians.

Mr James Apeatu-Ankrah, Spokesperson of AFAG, addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, called on the public to join the Alliance and its allies for the demonstration.

The allies include Generational Youth Movement (GYM), Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF), Traders Associations and Labour Unions. The protest march would begin from Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle through some principal streets in the metropolis and end at Accra Hearts of Oak Park near the Centre for National Culture.

Mr Apeatu-Ankrah said the sharp increases in fuel prices had affected prices of all market commodities, transport fares, spare parts and other petroleum products such as engine oil, and thus bringing untold hardships to Ghanaians.

He stated that most industries and businesses were collapsing due to the high taxes and utility tariffs leading to the loss of jobs and increase in unemployment, especially among the youth.

Mr Apeatu-Ankrah explained that though AFAG in a press statement on January 5, this year, appealed to the Government to review the prices of petroleum products within a 10-day period as a matter of urgency and for the socio-economic progress of the nation, it had remained adamant to the plight of the already burdened Ghanaian.

He said, 93In the midst of these hardships, we expected the Government to have listened to the plight of the over-burdened Ghanaians and reduce the tax rates on petroleum products.

"We are saddened by the failure of President John Evans Atta Mills' administration to honour the social contract made with Ghanaians," he added. Mr Apeatu-Ankrah said AFAG would continue to mount pressure on government if it failed to yield to the plea and replicate such demonstrations in all the regions to raise public support and awareness of the Government's deception to the Ghanaian electorate.

Mr Kwaku Frimpong, Vice Chairman of 37 Branch of GPRTU, said the recent 30 per cent fuel increase was unacceptable, saying it had added to the already harsh economic conditions being experienced by Ghanaians.

He indicated that the increases had affected the cost of undertaking business and most of their members were now unable to make their daily sale= s and were facing threats of losing their jobs.

Mr Frimpong called on President Mills to remember his election campaig= n promises of reducing taxes, providing more jobs and better living conditions, especially to the GPRTU, which campaigned tirelessly for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to win power.

"The Government's deception has become clear as it continues to br= eak all its promises to Ghanaians," he added.