In the wake of current hardship and frustration of Ghanaians under the governmentship of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party ((NPP), “KUM YEN PREKO DEMO” a March against Hardship, and Oppression is set to take off on Tuesday, 2nd July, 2019 in the capital city, Accra, Ghana.
The March is to protest the increasing levels of economic hardship and rising oppression under the leadership of President Nana Addo.
This was contained in a press release issued by the organisers, the Coalition for Social Justice (CSJ) and signed by Sammy Gyamfi, the Convenor.
According to them, “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”.
Indicating that, “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.
Therefore, noted that, many Ghanaians continue to lose their jobs, while Contractors remain unpaid.
Due to reckless leadership, the group noted that, 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, it lamented.
“Due to the excessive reckless borrowings of the Akufo-Addo government, 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”. csj acknowledged.
Aside these, the group noted with dismay, the several acts of oppression that have characterized the Akufo-Addo regime that, 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
Refering among other things, the group noted 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 Manesseh Azuri, 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.
Adding, “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 state for the purpose of intimidating and silencing political opposition as was witnessed at Ayawaso West Wuogon”.
“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”, it emphasized.
Moving forward, in view of the above, the Coalition for Social Justice (CJS) is urging Ghanaians from all walks of life to join them on Tuesday, 2nd July, 2019 to drum home a clear message to the Akufo-Addo government as well invite all progressive forces and political allies in this struggle to join them as they 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”,it stressed.
Source: Ishmael Barfi
