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27.04.2005 General News

Wahala protest for Oseikrom

27.04.2005 LISTEN
By JOY ONLINE

The committee for Joint Action, CJA says it is next going to Kumasi with its Wahala protest marches.

Although a date is yet to be fixed, the organizers have scheduled a sensitization forum for Thursday in Kumasi.

The Ashanti Regional coordinators of the CJA say they expect a turnout of about ten thousand to hit the streets to protest what they call wide spread economic hardships.

“ We don't intend to get less than 10,000 people on the streets and the security agencies should be ready for us.”

The Deputy Regional Secretary of the NDC, Doe Tamakloe, who is a member of the Ashanti regional coordinating committee of the CJA, says even though the committee suspects a move to deny it access to the GNAT hall for the forum, they are determined to go according to their plans.

Mr. Tamakloe says the CJA has been working on the quiet in Kumasi and that the impending demonstrating will be the biggest of all the wahala protests held throughout the country.

He says the march, which will be attended by high-ranking leaders of the CJA including the former president; Jerry Rawlings, will dwell on issues such as the petroleum price hikes and the general cost of living with emphasis on the intended increases in electricity and water tariffs as well as government's inability to increase salaries to consumerate with the increases.

“We feel that government is highly insensitive and tends to adhere strictly to textbook economics,” he says.

Quizzed on whether groups and organizations will be attending the forum and the march, Mr. Tamakloe says the TUC will be part of the march as well as people who are facing hardships as a result of the petroleum price hikes.

“ We do not intend to drag any institution that may feel uncomfortable or victimized by the ruling government should they join the march. We are not pushing anybody,” he says.

Mr. Tamakloe says no group or persons can stop the CJA from embarking on the demonstration.

“ It is our constitutional right to demonstrate. We are coming and nothing can stop us, if they want peace in Kumasi, it will be foolhardiness for them to try to stop us or prevent us from pursing our legitimate constitutional rights,” he says.

Asked if the CJA will not be embarrassed since most people in Kumasi are sympathetic towards the NPP administration, Mr. Tamakloe replied, “ People in Kumasi are very politically matured and alert. Once upon a time they supported the NPP government and were sympathetic and were prepared to do everything possible to bear its economic hardships. But now, they have come to the realization that there is nothing good in store for them,”

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