AFAG Demo Rocks Accra November 6

The AFAG leadership
Leadership of pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), has set Thursday, November 6, 2014 for a massive demonstration against corruption and mismanagement.

In view of the harsh economic conditions in the country, the group has decided to label the upcoming protest march as 'Aagbe Wo' demonstration—literally meaning 'We are being killed' demonstration.

At a press conference in Accra yesterday, AFAG Chairman, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, said 'Corruption has become more of the   norm than the exception under President John Mahama and his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.'

He noted that 'no week passes without another act of corruption being exposed under the NDC regime.'

Basis
'This NDC government has left a huge stock of debt without value for money or capital investments,' he said.

In the wake of what Dr Afriyie described as 'government's insensitivity towards the plight of Ghanaians', he announced, 'The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) and the good people of this country will on Thursday, 6th November, 2014, take to the streets to bare our teeth against the enormous corruption perpetuated and supervised by the NDC government.'

He emphasised, 'This well organised and despicable crime against the good people of this country has dwindled the economic fortunes of the state and virtually every household in Ghana, because the economic mess is debilitating. No consistent supply of electricity and water, yet we pay ever-increasing tariffs on utilities. World market price of oil is on the decline, yet we are paying high prices for petrol and its related products. They say the dollar is falling against the cedi, yet import duties are so high that various trading companies are folding up and the prices of items soaring. Cost of living is so high. The home we have is now a hell to live in. Mr President, Ghanaians are maiming. The economy is hot and killing—(Aagbe Wo)”.

He therefore charged, 'We need to rise up and stand for our right.'

Issues
Dr Afriyie made an analysis of the cost involved in some of the ongoing construction works in the country, most of which he said the figures had been inflated by the government.

While the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange cost $32 million, the Sofo Line interchange—the most intricate in Ghana—cost $38 million, and the N1 Highway with six lanes and two interchanges spanning from Tetteh Quarshie to Mallam cost $110 million, the AFAG Chairman said, noting that 'However, that of Kasoa—a much smaller one—is to be constructed by a corrupt Brazilian company at $174m.'

This $174 million loan, according to the AFAG boss, 'was part of the loans pushed on Parliament for approval during their emergency sitting three weeks ago.'

It is alleged that the supposed Brazilian company, Queiroz Galvao Construcao, is a baby of someone at the highest level of government, who is untouchable.

Queiroz Galvao Construcao is the same company that constructed the controversial Umbraer jet                    ($25 million-turned $88 million) hangar at the Kotoka International Airport; and the same company is constructing the interchange at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle at the cost of which AFAG claims had been inflated to  â‚¬78 million—even though it was estimated to have cost €46 million.

For the group, 'What is more intriguing is the approval of $168 million loan three weeks ago as extension works on the already inflated circle project.'

This was what compelled Dr Afriyie to ask, 'What kind of extension is worth more than the N1 Highway from Tetteh Quarshie to Mallam?'

This same company is said to have been awarded the Tamale airport project.

Concern
Meanwhile, AFAG had indicated that it has intelligence from the corridors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which indicates that 'government has been advised to introduce VAT on petrol and other petroleum products.'

If that turns out to be true, leadership of the group indicated the preparedness of Ghanaians to reject it.

'Fellow Ghanaians, our lives are in danger by these untruthful economic scavengers. There is merciless hardship visiting every household, except for the NDC and its appointees. Worst off is the fear of workers going home as paupers. Pensions are in danger. How on earth can a retiree be on GH¢200 a month? Workers' lives are being toyed with; they cannot locate their deductions. This is painful. Certainly government is not getting it right. It is their money give it back to them; taking them to court without releasing their funds to them is shameful and pathetic,' he noted.

In this regard, leadership of AFAG has therefore called on all Ghanaians—young and old, employed and jobless, home and abroad, civil societies alike, public advocates, political parties and trade unions—to join AFAG on Thursday, 6th November, as we demonstrate to show to the world, the level of economic hardship, corruption has plunged Ghanaians into.'

The demonstration, which would start at the famous Obra Spot, is expected to end at the Hearts Park in Accra.

 By Charles Takyi-Boadu