"Wahala" demonstration in Kumasi

Kumasi, May 16, GNA - Storekeepers and shoppers stood agape with a complete traffic jam on principal streets of Kumasi when members and sympathizers of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) embarked on a peaceful demonstration to demand for the reduction of fuel prices and also call attention to other social problems facing Ghanaians in the country.

The demonstrators wearing red bands held placards some of which read, "Mr Affordability What Do You Say Now", "Economic of Progress? - Unemployment Armed robbery, Corruption, Diseases and Poverty", "Theresa Advise Kufuor", "George Bush, Threachery or Hypocrisy", "Kufuor is Killing Ghanaians", "Long Live JJ" and "Worse Standard of Living". They started from the Central Post Office through the Prempeh II street to the Central Market to Roman Hill and ended at the Jackson's Park with the police, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Adu-Poku, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander providing them with the security.

The demonstrators made eight intermittent stops, sat on the ground and singing songs like "NPP run away", "NPP petrol and cocaine dealers", "Azaa Government", "Narcotics People's Party whiles calling on people to join them in the demonstration.

Addressing the demonstrators after the two-hour walk at the Jackson's Park, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, a member of the CJA and National Women's Organiser of the National Democratic congress (NDC), called on Ghanaians to be bold to tell the government her mistakes. She said that was the only way to stir the government to initiate moves to solve the enormous problems facing them to improve their standards of living.

"Do not hide your problems because of political inclinations after all the government has to deliver on her promises when it mounted campaign to canvass for votes".

Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC, said Kufuor's administration was still using "trial and error tactics in attempts to solve the problems of Ghanaians. He said if President Kufuor is refusing to accept the blame for the increase in fuel prices, he should not try to claim credit when prices are reduced.

Mr Mahama Ayarega, Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central and General Secretary to the CJA, wondered why Kufuor said he had the men to salvage the economic problems of the country but was now saddled with the petrol crisis.

He called on all eligible voters to vote the NPP out, come the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.