Gov't bribed demonstrators with €500 and €1000 - Hopeson Adorye

Concerned Ghanaians in Germany, who staged a demonstration against President John Dramani Mahama, have alleged that the Mahama government bribed some Ghanaian nationals in Germany not to engage in the protest.

In an attempt to set the records straight, the leadership of the demonstrators debunked claims by the Presidency that only a handful of people joined in the protest against the President during his trip to the European country.

Some demonstrators raided the Intercontinental Hotel in Berlin where President Mahama and his entourage were lodging, pictured with placards and jeered at the Mahama administration for failing to resolve Ghana's economic crises on Tuesday.

However, a statement released by the Flagstaff House dismissed reports that the demonstration recorded a deluge of protesters; stressing that only a handful of opposition members strolled through the streets.

“In a sharp contrast to the handful (exact count, 18 people) of opposition NPP supporters who were outside the Intercontinental Hotel in Berlin holding placards insulting the President of the Republic of Ghana, hundreds of patriotic, concerned and hardworking Ghanaians living in Germany on Tuesday evening met with President John Dramani Mahama as part of his State Visit to the Federal Republic of Germany.

"The over three hundred Ghanaians who attended the Ghanaian Community meeting to interact with the President included Ghanaian professionals, traditional leaders, students, business executives, children of Ghanaians living in Germany some of whom are now Germans of Ghanaian origin and a number of friends of Ghana,” the statement noted.

But organizers of the protest have disclosed in a press statement copied to Peacefmonline.com that some Ghanaians were given "between €500 and €1000 not to attend the demonstration."

"We have members of our community who will testify to this blatant bribery attempt," the statement further read.

The organizers also recounted that President Mahama and his entourage acted like "cowards" and so, used "the rear entrance to the hotel" to evade the demonstrators.

"Surely, a handful of demonstrators could not have frightened him that much? The truth of the matter is that his handlers, having seen the size of the demonstrators, sneaked him into the hotel through the back door, like the coward that he is, unable to face his own countrymen, and women. Again, why, and how much did the Flagstaff House spend in bribing people to attend a community meeting with the President?"

The demonstrators have therefore advised government to fix the economic problems and warned President Mahama together with his appointees to stop peddling lies across the nation.

"Instead of embarking on this red herring trip, we urge the Flagstaff House to focus on dealing with the economic mess it has created, as well as with the corruption in high places going to the very top of this government. We are tired of the lies!"