Wahala March Flops -Statesman

National Democratic Congress top gun Ato Awhoi denied Tuesday?s Wahala was a low point in the NDC and its allies campaign to make heavy political capital out of the recent and previous price increases under the New Patriotic Party administration on a Citi FM current affairs radio programme yesterday evening, there was every evidence that the elements had conspired to scuttle the now obsolescent, monotonous and irrelevant strategy by the Committee for Joint for Action to run down the NPP administration.

The Techiman March did not take place because the people were mourning a high-ranking traditional priest of the area; the Accra March could not take place either because of the ban on noisemaking; that for Kumasi was ?rained off?, owing to low attendance and Tamale suffered the same fate because of security reasons.


The elements of water, (Kumasi); spirit, (Techiman) and Accra, fire (Tamale) were at work to put a damper on the activities of the CJA.


But venerable Ato Ahwoi, NDC leading member is convinced the protest was successful to a large extent, since the message is already out there regarding worsening living conditions of most Ghanaians.


?We still believe it was successful?, Ato told Citi FM?s Paul Adom-Otchere.


?If we had to listen to the traditional authorities in Techiman and mourn with them on the loss of their spiritual leader, there?s nothing wrong with that?again if we had to listen to the authorities and refrain from going onto the streets in protest, that should be plus for us?It is true the Accra March could not come, but it is understandable if we did not go all out because we hear there was a clash between the traditional rulers and a particular? There was no point flouting the ban?which is a good thing on our part? As for Kumasi, everyone knows what happened; and everyone in Ghana is aware that when it rains people even refuse to go to work?it is therefore no big news that the Kumasi March was unsuccessful??

From Kumasi, our correspondent Joe Lartey reports that the Garden City gave a cold shoulder to the demonstration organized by the Committee for Joint Action over the recent increment in petroleum products.


Ama Benyiwa-Doe, the NDC Women?s Organiser admitted that the turn-out was well below expectation. An early morning downpour made sure it was not going to be easy for the CJA and their boys to have a big house for the march.


At exactly 10:55 am, the march had taken off at the post office square, with about an hundred demonstrators. They went through the Unicorn House, Roman Hill, the Central Market and later converged at the Jackson?s Park.


The March ended around 2: pm, with the short distance taking them over four hours as the demonstrators dogged their steps in anguish in anticipation that the rains might stop.


The organisers, led by Bernard Mornah, Ama Benyiwah-Doe and a few high-ranking leaders of the CJA, took turns to condemn the Kufuor administration for the increases in petroleum product, without offering alternatives.

The people of Kumasi, apparently not enthusiastic about the noise being churned out about by the CJA and their boys and girls, took little note of the protest march.


Commenting on the CJA protest march fiasco, the Ashanti First Vice-Regional Chairman of the NPP, Osei Assibey Antwi, said the CJA have no case demonstrating against the fuel price increase because it was an inevitable decision taken by the NPP administration.


?It was a difficult decision, but we believe the good people of Ghana appreciate the difficulties faced by the government.?