NPP demo rocks Accra over power crisis
By Edmund Smith-Asante & Abdul Aziz
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| The demonstrators marching through the streets of Accra |
The New
Patriotic Party (NPP)-led “won gbo” demonstration which took place in Accra
yesterday attracted a mammoth participation from across the country.
Shortly
after the 2016 flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had arrived
at the ‘Obra Spot’, the march took off, but with some difficulty in shepherding
the demonstrators as a result of the ongoing construction of the Kwame Nkrumah
flyover.
As of 10
a.m., the main Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Accra road was a sea of red and black
demonstrators as the police stopped vehicular movement to allow for a
relatively smooth procession through the principal streets of Accra to the
Hearts of Oak Park.
Trappings
of carnival
The
demonstration, which attracted the leadership of the NPP, had the trappings of
a carnival. Music blaring from loudspeakers placed in the buckets of
pick-ups and on articulated trucks, miniature vuvuzelas blaring every
minute from several lips and groups of people singing and dancing
while displaying placards with various inscriptions, took the centre
stage of the ‘won gbo’ demonstration.
Although
the cacophony of noise at the Freedom and Justice Park at the Kwame Nkrumah
Circle in Accra, popularly referred to as the ‘Obra Spot’, had the similitude
of a major convention, carnival or ‘jam’, it was nothing like that but a
serious affair of people experiencing reverses in their standard of
living expressing their frustration and anger.
The
demonstration attracted thousands of people who joined in to express their
displeasure at the state of the Ghanaian economy.
Clad in
mostly black or red attire, some of them specially designed ‘dumsor’ ‘T’
shirts, the NPP faithful who had come from all across the country and even from
the diaspora, said they were demonstrating against the power crisis that had
engulfed the country as well as the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy.
Some of
the demonstrators carried deep freezers, coal pots, sewing machines and
generating sets, among other electrical appliances.
Many of
the inscriptions were in sync with the aim of the demonstration. Some read
“Providing Electricity not a favour’’, Ghana needs better service’’
“Mahama, take the dum and give us the sor”, “Mr President, where is your
promise of dumsor at the IEA debate?”, “Bosea Opepepeee” and “Prez do something
before you go.”
Other
inscriptions were ‘’National Dumsor Committee’ (NDC)’’ ‘’ Stop destroying
our education’’ “Mahama + Corruption = Stealing” and “Buy one Mahama and
get dumsor free.”
At the
end of the two-hour protest, Nana Akufo-Addo described the massive turnout as a
pointer to the fact that Ghanaians from all walks of life had been affected in
a great way by the power and economic crises.
He,
therefore, urged Ghanaians to continue to mount pressure on the
government to find solutions to the power crisis which was destroying
businesses at all levels.
In his
view, the turnout was also a signal to the government that the suffering of the
people had reached a crescendo, saying “enough is enough’’ to deafening cheers
from the crowd.
He said
the “won gbo’ demonstration was not meant to topple the government but an
expression of disappointment at the lip service the government was paying to
solving the energy crisis.
Key
members of the NPP who participated included Mr Paul Afoko, National Chairman;
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, running mate of Nana Akufo-Addo, Mr Kwabena Agyepong,
General Secretary; Mr Kwadwo Alan Kyerematen, a former Minister of State,
Mr John Boadu, National Youth Organiser, and a former AMA Chief Executive, Mr
Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson.
Some MPs
sighted were Mr Daniel Botwe, the MP for Okere; the MP for Old Tafo, Dr Anthony
Akoto Osei; the MP for Manhyia South, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh; Mr David
Oppon-Kusi, MP for Ofoase/Ayirebi; Dr Nana Ato Arthur, MP for Komenda-
Edina -Aguafo -Abirem (KEEA), and the MP for Kwadaso, Dr Afriyie Akoto.
Background
Following
the massive public outcry over the erratic power supply in the country, the NPP
set yesterday to stage a mass demonstration over the issue.
The
demonstration was also aimed at expressing the displeasure over the worsening
economic situation in the country.
Ghana has
been battling with power crisis for some time now, a situation which has
compelled the government to place orders for emergency power badges.
President
Mahama has given the assurance that he would do everything within his capacity
to resolve the power situation which has bedevilled the nation.
This
story was first published by the Daily
Graphic on February 19, 2015
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