Arab Spring looms in Ghana – Edward Mahama

The flagbearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC) Dr Edward Mahama has warned of an uprising in Ghana if structures are not put in place for the youth to enjoy a better future.

The five-time presidential candidate of the Nkrumahist party believes politicians must move away from the rhetoric and deceit and give the youth hope before they mass up against them at the seat of government – the Flagstaff House.

The gynecologist stressed jobs must be created to deal with the dire issue of unemployment which has brought about desperation among the Ghanaian youth. According to him, until the problems of the youth are addressed, the young oil-producing country is likely to experience the turmoil which befell Tunisia and other Arab nations in 2011.

“I believe that the young people are like atoms that we used to make either an atomic bomb or an atomic reactor. If you make an atomic bomb, you destroy. If you make an atomic reactor you produce energy. Some of you don’t know – Nkrumah wanted to produce an atomic reactor and the coup came and the reactors were picked up and sent somewhere. So, if these young people are not mobilized, given hope and given employment and are roaming the streets, we are going to have what is similar to the Arab Spring,” Dr Mahama said at the National Peace Summit 2016 under the auspices of Rotary Club and EIB Election Hub at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

He added: “If you ask Tunisia they are still reeling from it. If you ask Egypt they are still reeling from it. We should not let our young people get so desperate that they will go to the Flagstaff House and cease the country by force.”

Arab Spring refers to the democratic uprisings that arose independently and spread across the Arab world in 2011. The movement originated in Tunisia in December 2010 and quickly took hold in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.