Regional Minister Frustrating Tamale "Wahala" Demo

Attempts by enraged residents of Tamale and its environs to hit the streets of the Northern regional capital in their thousands to protest against the steep increase in the price of petrol are being seriously frustrated by the Northern Regional Minister, Boniface Saddique Abubakar.

The Demo being organized by a pressure group named Action Against Hardship was originally scheduled for this week coming closely on the heels of the highly successful "Demo" held in Accra on Tuesday. But very reliable sources close to the Tamale Regional Police Commander have informed the Lens that the Regional Minister is very much against the timing of the intended Demonstration.

According to the sources, he is afraid that the Demo would drastically raise the political temperature in the Tamale Metropolis and spoil the cordial relationship he is attempting to forge between the political authority in the region and key opinion leaders and traditional rulers.

As part of plans to scuttle the demonstration, the Lens has learnt, that the Regional Security Council at a recent meeting with key opinion leaders and religious leaders went to the extent of calling on various religious leaders to use their platforms to paint the organizers of the demonstration as dangerous individuals who are collaborating with negative forces to plunge the area into further turmoil.

The Lens has also learned of possible moves that are likely to be made on the organizers with a view to frightening them out of going ahead with the demonstration. The organizer of the group, Action Against Hardship, Mohammed Aboagye seems to be on top of the target list.

In spite of all these maneuvers, the organizers remain resolute that they will go ahead with the demonstration as soon as they sort out the date and routes with the Regional Police Commander.