Agitated citizens to embark on ‘FixTheCountry’ protest on May 9
Some unhappy Ghanaians mostly made up of the youth have written to the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to declare their intent to embark on a demonstration on Sunday, May 9.
The protest which has been tagged, #FixTheCountry is to vent their spleens over what they describe as a failure on the part of successive governments to improve the lives of the citizenry.
In the letter signed by 20 individuals, they explained that the date, May 9, was selected to capture the restless spirit of the over 126 Ghanaians who lost their lives some 20 years ago at the Accra Sports Stadium due to the “institutionalized incompetence and disregard for Ghanaian lives.”
As well as to commemorate the 26th Anniversary of the anti-government Kume Preko Demonstration of May 11, 1995 which was championed by President Akufo-Addo, Charles Wereko-Brobby, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Akoto Ampaw and Napoleon Abdulai.
The group indicated that they “do not intend to deliver a petition to the Presidency,” but will assemble at the Independence Square at 8:30am for the march to commence at 9:30am then disperse at 37 Maxmart
“The March will proceed peacefully and at a socially distanced pace from the Blackstar Independence Square Station. From the Independence Square, the group will continue along the 28th February Road, then join the Atta Mills High Street; then down Graphic Road towards circle, using Dr. Busia Highway, and then return on Dr Busia Highway to meet Ring Road West Road.
“Then continue on that street through Ring Road central, then Odoi Kwao Loop, then join Hilla Limann Highway, then Turn on Sunyani Avenue continuing straight till turn on Kanda Link, then Turn on President Drive, then continue till we hit Liberation Road, then continue down Liberation Road till 37 Maxmart where Group Disperses,” the statement read.
With the Covid-19 pandemic still persisting, the group promised to uphold all the safety protocols as stipulated by the Ghana Health Service and also embark on a peaceful protest.
“We have no intention of gaining entry into any security installation, destroying private property, or breaching the peace in any other way. The march is about due process and government accountability. As such we intend to conduct the march in a manner consistent with the laws of the country, with particular regard to our rights and duties under the Constitution and such other relevant.”
#FixTheCountryNow has been topping twitter trends for the past 48 hours.
Social media users, largely the youth, in their posts have been highlighting some of these inadequacies.
Despite efforts by government including the Nation Builders’ Corp (NABCO), National Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) and other commitments towards investing in the growing human capital, some Twitter users say the impact is not felt on the ground.
Dominant in the sentiments shared on Twitter are rising youth unemployment, dilapidated health system, skyrocketing home-renting structure, poor road networks among others.
Coupled with corruption, erratic power and water supply, the users say the development has compounded their challenges and made life difficult for the average young Ghanaian to make a decent living.
