Peaceful Dumsor Vigil

After the hue and cry over the dumsor vigil, the event came off peacefully without incidents and attracted massive numbers. The only closeness to any eyebrow raising attraction was the bravado of persons who insulted the organisers but turned around to partake in what they did not believe in. They reaped the fruits of their foolhardiness as they were chased away.

Whatever such persons sought to achieve by such nonsense can be traced to a crazy quest for attention in the media so they can update their political curriculum vitae. Otherwise what the heck were they looking for on the procession route?

Be it as it may, we wish to congratulate the organisers and participants on putting to shame those who sought to give the exercise a bad name so they could hang it in the end. Unfortunately for such cynics, they have nothing to hang after all.

Demonstrations in the country in recent times, besides the kumepreko one, have been organised without incidents. It is an instructive observation, one which should guide the appropriate law enforcement agency to be measured in its scrutiny of notifications sent them prior to such democratic exercises.

We recall the apprehensions underpinning the event when the idea was first mooted and the police notified accordingly.

Ghanaians are peace-loving people who cherish keeping their country in one piece. When they hit the streets in furtherance of their democratic rights, as in the dumsor issue, they should have been pushed to the wall.

The message has been sent to the government that Ghanaians would no longer take the countless failed promises about the restoration of normal electricity supply. Announced dates for the end to the energy crisis have come and gone, with the situation only worsening by the day as the inconveniences accompanying it knock off the sources of livelihood for thousands.

The semantics about fixing – not managing – electricity is only a populist ploy intended to give its source a certain aura of seriousness.

The number of persons sacked over the inability of the owners of companies to pay salaries is astonishing.

Now that Ghanaians know that government is unable to garner adequate money to purchase crude oil needed for the electricity generation system, they would not take any excuses.

A listening government does not pretend it takes onboard the concerns of the people and acts upon same.

It is our hope that the insults which accompanied previous protests would not visit this latest bout of protest. Let sincere efforts at reversing the worrying trend be visible and convincing.

Reversing the current situation should not attract any plaudits anyway. Governments are supposed to provide basic amenities for their people.

When eventually the status quo is restored, it only means that Ghanaians have been given what belongs to them and government undeserving of anything.