"Wahala" In Cape Coast

Monthly salary of workers inadequate-Prof Mills Cape Coast, Sept. 18, GNA - Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2004 elections on Sunday said that whereas the monthly salary of Ghanaian workers could not take them throughout the month, people in government were living in affluence. He therefore, asked the Kufuor administration to stop peddling lies that "all is well with the country" and rather work towards the elimination of poverty, hardships and sufferings in the country. Prof Mills made these remarks in an address at a rally to climax a well-attended Wahala demonstration organised by the Committee for Joint Action (CJA), at Cape Coast. The demonstration, which was generally peaceful, started from Siwdu through some of the streets of the municipality, under tight police protection, ended at Brofoyedru. The demonstrators, who danced to brass band music and other traditional drumming, amidst blowing of whistles, held placards, some of which read, "politics of deception is not rule of law, golden age of state robbery, reduce taxes now, CJA is for the people, save the rice industry and where are the jobs?"
Prof Mills, who was a Vice-President in the previous regime, commended the police personnel for their role in ensuring that the demonstration was peaceful.
Flt. Lt. (rtd) Jerry John Rawlings, former head of State and founder of NDC, for his part, asked where the justice in the system is, when people are hungry and suffering and cannot send their children to school.
Former President Rawlings condemned the alleged physical attack on the acting general-secretary of the NDC and others by thugs allegedly hired by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), under the vigilance of some security personnel during the Ododiodoo by-election.
The former Head of State, who was accompanied by his wife Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, commended all soldiers and police who were executing their duties well, and wished them God's blessings, adding that, the time for their reward would come.
He urged the supporters of CJA to close their ranks and work hard to ensure that the NPP was voted out of power in the 2008 general elections.
Mr. Danny Ofori-Atta, National Chairman of the EGLE party attributed the hardships the people were enduring to the fuel price hike, and asked Kufuor's government to show love for Ghanaians by reducing taxes on petroleum products.
Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan, vice-chairman of People's National Convention (PNC), debunked the notion that basic education in the country is now free, when parents are buying textbooks and stationery at exorbitant prices.
Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr. Leading member of the Convention People's Party (CPP), said until the government reduced petroleum prices and stopped its politics of deception, Wahala demonstrations in the country would continue unabated.
Other speakers at the rally were Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, former Member of Parliament for Gomoa-East and member of CJA, Mr Bernard Mornah, national youth organiser of PNC and member of CJA and Mr Barton Oduro, NDC parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast constituency in the last general elections.