One-Man "Kume Preko" Aborted

The much publicized one-man demonstration of David Lawson against the increase in fuel price ended abruptly in Accra.

Lawson’s mission was aborted when a group of young men opposed to his cause confronted him midway through his demonstration. According to an eye witness, Lawson was seen at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle with his megaphone inviting people in support of his cause to join him to protest against the government’s recent increases in fuel price.

Instead of attracting supporters, he became an unfortunate victim of people who obviously were bent on trampling on his constitutional right to demonstrate. In the process, he was heckled and his megaphone taken from him. The Adabraka Police, when contacted, confirmed the story but said Lawson was not being kept there as rumoured, rather, a good Samaritan picked his megaphone at the circle area and decided to deposit it with the police.

At the time of going to bed, the whereabouts of Lawson was still unknown. An Accra bi-weekly published that Lawson would lead a group of “concerned citizens” to demonstrate against the hike in fuel prices by the government. According to them, the price increases were unjustifiable and would impose considerable hardship on the people.

The demonstration was to start from the Nkrumah Circle through the UTC, Makola, the Ministries and end at Parliament House where they hoped to submit a petition to the speaker. Lawson reportedly completed all the legal and constitutional requirements for a demonstration, but this was not to be.

The Adabraka Police are, however, investigating the case to find out those whose acts aborted the otherwise democratically allowed demonstration.