Dumsor demo: I've not stopped anyone from demonstrating - Nii Odoi Mensah

Former president of the Ghana Actors Guild (GAG), Samuel Nii Odoi Mensah has denied stopping people from attending a planned demonstration in Kumasi against the power crisis.

The veteran actor said he rather suggested an alternative to the demonstrations.

“I was of the opinion that there had been a lot of demonstrations but nobody has suggested any solution to the government so I suggested that we petition the government instead,” he said.

Mr. Samuel Nii Odoi Mensah was accused by Public Relations Officer and Welfare officer for the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG), Michael Kwaku Ola of trying to stop organizers of the ‘Dumso demonstration from going ahead with the event slated for Thursday May 28, 2015.

But refuting the accusation on Hitz Entertainment News with Doreen Avio, Mr. Odoi Mensah said, he was only trying to talk to the leaders to see if they would buy into his idea.

“I don't have the right to stop anyone from demonstrating. I'm a stake holder so I was suggesting to them that lets add this things to it so that we make it more authentic. I haven't done anything wrong,” he said.

Asked what he suggested to the leaders, he said, “there is an increase in fuel prices and most people are using generators and solar panel to run their businesses so I said we should...petition the government to reduce taxes on solar panels and generators and also reduce the price of fuel so that people can buy one of these things to use to support the national grid until they are able to fix the problem.”

Mr. Odoi Mensah said the incessant power outages is a national crisis which is experienced by everyone and believes that if these measures are put in place, it will also cushion Ghanaians to give the government time to finish its work of finding a lasting solution to the problem.