Wahala III strikes Wa

Wa, March 31, GNA - About 1,500 people, in and around Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, on Thursday took part in the "Wahala'' demonstration organized by the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) against, what it terms astronomical fuel price increases.

The campaign is also against, what the CJA views as economic hardships facing Ghanaians and arrogance of the Kufuor administration. The demonstration, which started at the Wa Wang Wang park amidst brass band music, was led by stalwarts of the committee, comprising Mr. Bede Ziedeng, acting General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr. of the Convention People's Party, and Hajia Mariam Sinare who also addressed the demonstrators at the end of the two-and a half hour march.

The demonstration gathered steam from a few hundreds to an estimated crowd of one thousand five hundred.

Some of the placards read- "Kufuor reduce fuel price for the poor," "Kufuor stop deceiving Ghanaians," "Kwesi Pratt, Ghanaians are behind you."

At the end of the march, the demonstrators converged at Wang Wang park to listen to the addresses of the CJA leadership.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Kwesi Pratt called on the Kufuor government to heed and respond to the messages, as captured by the various placards, warning that failure to do so could cost the government dearly.

Mr Pratt called on the government to take steps to reduce the sufferings of Ghanaians, pointing out that Ghanaians could no longer tolerate the hardships imposed on them by the government, which he described as insensitive.

On his part, Mr Ziedeng claimed that about eight different levies had been imposed on fuel and urged the government to withdraw them and also bring the price of fuel price to thirteen thousand cedis seven hundred (13,700) cedis a gallon.

He claimed that the numerous levies imposed on fuel was adding to hardship on Ghanaians and urged the government to reduce its bloated executive members and also eliminate corruption within the government, as this leads to poverty and suffering.

On her part, Hajia Mariam Sinare noted, with gratitude that the massive turn out by the demonstrators clearly shows that they are really suffering, adding that the agitation would continue until government reduces the price of fuel.