Demo Rocks Koforidua

The group accused the President of being incompetent and corrupt, and blamed the rot in government on the alleged role played by Justice Atuguba to secure a win for him in the landmark election.

He was speaking at Jackson Park in Koforidua, after leading a group of demonstrators through the principal streets to protest against the sale of Merchant Bank.

The demonstrators carried placards with some inscriptions such as: 'JDM Heed The Cries of Pensioners', 'Bad Deal Mahama Must Resign', 'Engineers, Planners and Stealers', 'We Need Our Merchant Bank Back', 'Boys Abre' and 'Kofi Dubai Yabre'.

He noted, 'Times have become too difficult for the ordinary Ghanaian who is incapable of feeding himself and family, yet, Mahama and his corrupt Ministers amass State wealth for themselves.'

Mr Owusu-Bempah added that any pastor calling for prayers for the nation 'does not know what he is about because there is nothing God can do for Ghana again.'

He explained that Ghana with all its mineral resources is still grappling with under-development, while countries like Saudi Arabia which could only boast of oil are far developed.

'We've never had a government as corrupt and full of thieves like that of Mahama's.'

He said Mahama and his administration have nothing to offer to the ordinary Ghanaian, so, 'they should leave the scene for others to come.'

Mr Owusu-Bempah said the free fast fall of the cedi should be salvaged quickly in order to reduce the current economic hardships on Ghanaians.

He charged the crowd to rise and demand good governance from the Mahama-led administration and show them the exit by 2016.

Mr Owusu-Bempah said if the people of Ghana do not rise against the sale of Merchant Bank, the Agricultural Development Bank would be the next on the list.

He noted further that 'our National Anthem which instructs us to resist oppressors rule does not only refer to the colonial masters but applies to anyone who goes contrary to the oath he swears to.'

Ken Kuranchie, one of the leaders of the group, alleged that the government has been able to pay GH¢1 billion as judgment debt to some individuals when personnel of the Ghana Police Service have not received their allowances for the past two years.

He noted that the diligence of former President Kufuor led to the oil discovery; yet, Ghanaians have no clue as to how revenue from the oil was being expended.

Attik Mohammed, a member of the People's National Convention (PNC) noted that 'the SNNIT contributor is no longer safe as contributions from workers are being gambled with.'

He noted that Fortiz are just group of persons interested in leeching the government.

Mr Mohammed said even though the courts failed Ghanaians, 'We have the power. We are the biggest court.'

He stressed that the status of the Ghanaian economy showed how visionless the Mahama-led administration is.

A member of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Charles Owusu, observed that President Mahama is only leading Ghanaians to the verge of death, 'that is why he promised the people of the Northern Region that he is going to build a state-of-the-art mortuary facility for them.'

PACA has already been to Accra, Kumasi and Koforidua, and intends to demonstrate throughout the country.

The group is considering Takoradi in the Western Region as their next stop.

 From: Rocklyn Antonio, Koforidua