"Zamanlafiya Demonstration" called off

Accra, April 19, GNA- A demonstration announced last Thursday and planned for Tuesday April 19, in solidarity with President John Agyekum Kufuor by a group calling itself Liberal Democrats, in conjunction with other democratic groups, could not come on because the Police failed to give them the go ahead.

It has, therefore, been rescheduled for later in the week. The group also said the demonstration could also not be held because of the Greater Accra Regional People's Assembly scheduled for today in Accra.

A Spokesman for the organisers, Alhaji Ibrahim Yahaya told a press conference in Accra on Tuesday that they planned the demonstration code-named "Zamanlafiya", an Hausa phrase for peace and stability, "to show solidarity with President John Agyekum Kufuor for his patience and tolerance in the face of extreme provocation and vicious and indecent attacks against him and his administration by Former President Jerry John Rawlings and his cronies".

He said among the compelling reasons for the demonstration was to bring to light the diabolical acts of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) on whose platform, Former President Rawlings launched a barrage of insult on the personality of the Head of State of the Republic of Ghana. Alhaji Yahaya said the majority of Ghanaians saw President Kufuor as a responsible, caring, honest and a true statesman.

He said the demonstration would uncover Former President Rawlings's "systematically orchestrated plan to provoke the sensibility of civil groups and other unsuspecting Ghanaians to back his action for an unnecessary civil strife, by strategically painting a gloomy picture of the state of affairs in the country.

"Even as we re-echo the clarion call for peace, sobriety, decency and tolerance, it is only proper to remind our good selves of the dangers inherent in such unguided rhetoric, from no less a person than the Ex-President, for it will not only open the gate for sliding down into indiscipline but could plunge our dear nation into chaos and anarchy."

He said the Liberal Democrats were poised to halt what he termed "this seemingly apathetic disposition" by calling on Ghanaians, who share their concerns and aspirations to join in the Zamanlafiya march for peace and reconciliation, no matter their political affiliation. 19 April 05