Big demo in Accra

The Ghanaian Times in its account of the Opposition demonstration, reports that five political parties, yesterday held a massive protest march in Accra, which lasted nearly three hours, to express their concerns about the economic crisis facing Ghana.

The paper says the demonstrators were from the NPP, the Convention Party (CP), People's National Convention (PNC), Convention Party (CP), United Ghana Movement (UGM) and the National Reform Party (NRP).

The Times says that contrary to fears and apprehensions by a cross-section of the public earlier, the demonstration started and ended peacefully.

The paper says the crowd, made up of members of the Opposition parties, was well-behaved and confined themselves within the police demarcated route, thus posing no problem to the law enforcement personnel detailed along the route

The Times says a loud speaker mounted on a van, constantly blared a message from the organisers, appealing to the demonstrators not to misconduct themselves or they would be handed over to the police.

The paper says the leadership of the five Minority parties, had earlier met at the NPP national headquarters at Kokomlemle, from where they went on foot to meet the teeming crowd at the agreed point, Barnetts near the Circle Overhead Bridge.

According to the Times some of the placards carried by the demonstrators read: "O God! help Ghanaians", "No higher health user fee", "Ya bre", Ghanafo, yen nnsuro", NDC enough is enough" and "We are hungry". The paper says the Opposition Members of Parliament were not left out.

It says Nana Akufo Addo MP for Abuakwa, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, MP for Afigya Sekyere West, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, MP for Manhyia, Mrs Gladys Asmah, MP for Takoradi and Ms Christine Churcher, MP for Cape Coast, and many others were there. GRi../

The Ghanaian Chronicle ******************* Armageddon that never was!..'Yabre' demo comes off peacefully **************************************************** The Ghanaian Chronicle also chose the Opposition demonstration as its lead story and says that the Armageddon that had been predicted by the ruling NDC to fall on Accra yesterday with the demonstration by the Joint Action Committee of the Opposition political parties, failed to materialised.

The Chronicle says that as a result, the unusually large number of policemen deployed and psyched to ruthlessly deal with the demonstrators should they turn violent, had nothing to do but remain silent spectators.

The paper says that no bullet, a canister or teargas, was fired and the water cannons stationed strategically to spray hot water on the demonstrators, were never put into action.

The Chronicle says the demonstrators led by the leaders of the NPP the Convention Party (CP), United Ghana Movement (UGM), People's National Convention (PNC) and the National Reform Party (NRP), broke off peacefully after being told they had put the NDC to shame by refusing to be intimidated.