Group to protest against economic hardship, insecurity, oppression

Pressure group, Coalition for Social Justice (CSJ), is threatening to hit the streets to protest against what it calls increasing levels of economic hardship, insecurity and oppression under President Akufo-Addo.

The protest march to be organized in the national capital on July 2, 2019, is to among others raise concerns about the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s mismanagement of the economy, as well as poor implementation of policies which the group argues have brought unprecedented economic hardship to Ghanaians.

The march has been dubbed “Kum yen preko” Demonstration.

Coalition for Social Justice which draws its members from two opposition parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and People’s National Convention (PNC), says they are appalled by the abysmal performance of the Akufo-Addo government, continuous depreciation of the Cedi and increment in the prices of goods and services especially fuel.

Conveners of CSJ, including Sammy Gyamfi, National Communication Officer of the NDC in a statement copied to The Herald said, “we note among other things; the unbearable cost of living in the country occasioned by high cost of fuel, continuous depreciation of the Cedi and the skyrocketing increases in prices of goods and services without a corresponding increase in wages.

Many Ghanaians continue to lose their jobs, while Contractors remain unpaid.

The NHIS is collapsing, and we are back to the era of Dumsor. Many flagship promises of President Akufo-Addo such as one constituency One million dollars per year, One Village One Dam, One District One Factory, and the promised fight against corruption remain unfulfilled”, the statement signed by six executives, including Sammy Gyamfi said.

It went on to express deep concern over the current balloon debts and described it as “reckless” leading to the less than three-year administration, adding some GHc80 billion to the national debt stock.

CSJ, also noted with concern, “the several acts of oppression that have characterized the Akufo-Addo regime”.

The group recalled, recent attacks on media practitioners and closure of some media houses, known to be sympathetic to the opposition NDC as means though, which government is cleverly using to oppress dissenting voices.

“In the last two (2) and half years, the Akufo-Addo government has sought to obscure and muzzle-out any opposition to their misgovernance by resorting to persistent harassment of political opponents and independent dissenting voices.

We refer among other things, to the attacks on press freedom such as the gruesome murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, the harassment and intimidation of journalists like Joy FM’s ManessehAzuri, Star FM’s

Edward Adeti, Radio XYZ’s Kwame Minka etc., as well as the Gestapo shutdown of Radio Gold, Radio XYZ and other media organizations”.

The arrest and continuous persecution of the national Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampafo, the brutalities at the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election by tags from national security, general insecurity, “politically motivated” collapse of banks were all cited as they say they amount to the “state capture” agenda by the government.

Below is the full statement by the group

COALITION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE (CSJ) TO EMBARK ON “KUM YEN PREKO DEMO’’- A MARCH AGAINST HARDSHIP, AND OPPRESSION

The Coalition for Social Justice (CSJ), announces for the information of all progressive forces and the general public that on Tuesday, 2nd July, 2019, it shall embark on a mammoth demonstration in the capital city of Accra.

The march which is dubbed “Kum Yen Preko” is to protest the increasing levels of economic hardship and rising oppression under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo.

As a key stakeholder of our democratic and development process, we note with deep concern, that ever since president Akufo-Addo ascended the Presidency, he and his government have pursued policies that have left many worse-off and increasingly vulnerable.

We note among other things; the unbearable cost of living in the country occasioned by high cost of fuel, continuous depreciation of the Cedi and the skyrocketing increases in prices of goods and services without an a corresponding increase in wages. Many Ghanaians continue to lose their jobs, while Contractors remain unpaid.

The NHIS is collapsing, and we are back to the era of Dumsor. Many flagship promises of President Akufo-Addosuch as one constituency One million dollars per year, One Village One Dam, One District One Factory, and the promised fight against corruption remain unfulfilled.

Due to the excessive reckless borrowings of the Akufo-Addogovernment, Ghana’s Public debt has increased astronomically by a whopping GHS80 billion in the last two (2)and a half years with very little to show for.

Aside these, we note with dismay, the several acts of oppression that have characterized the Akufo-Addo regime.

In the last two (2) and half years, the Akufo-Addo government has sought to obscure and muzzle-out any opposition to their misgovernance by resorting to persistent harassment of political opponents and independent dissenting voices.

We refer among other things, to the attacks on press freedom such as the gruesome murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, the harassment and intimidation of journalists like Joy FM’s ManessehAzuri, Star FM’s

Edward Adeti, Radio XYZ’s Kwame Minka etc., as well as the Gestapo shutdown of Radio Gold, Radio XYZ and other media organizations.

We also refer to the continuous harassment of the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress

(NDC), Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the several acts of lawlessness and the deployment of the coercive powers of the state for the purpose of intimidating and silencing political opposition as was witnessed at Ayawaso WestWuogon.

These acts, coupled with increasing levels of insecurity and impunity in the country, arbitrary dismissals and victimization of workers, and the politically-motivated collapse of businesses perceived to belong to opponents, are calculated to aid the ”state capture” agenda of President Akufo-Addo and the NPP.

In view of the above, we are urging Ghanaians from all walks of life to join us on Tuesday, 2nd July, 2019 to drum home a clear message to the Akufo-Addo government.

We invite all progressive forces and political allies in this struggle to join us as we remind the Akufo-Addo regime that, it was elected to improve the living conditions of the Ghanaian and not to worsen them. They swore to respect human rights and freedoms and not to suppress same.

Enough is enough!

Kum Yen Preko!

Gbeawornyonglo!!

Kehshee Mu!!!

Wumi La Li!!!!!

Signed.

COMRADE SAMMY GYAMFI

(Convenor, CSJ)

COMRADE ISHAQ AWUDU

(National Youth Organizer, PNC & Secretary of CSJ)

Contact No.: 0244947573

COMRADE EDEM AGBANA

(Operations, CSJ)

Contact No.: 0552477081

COMRADE NABILA ALHASSAN BASIRU

(National Youth Organizer, CPP & Member of CSJ)

Contact No.: 0200980390

COMRADE ABASS NURUDEEN

(Communications Officer, CSJ)

Contact No.: 0243919746

COMRADE ASAFO ADJEI

(Dep. Communications, CSJ)

Contact No.: 0240614783