The Minority Caucus in Parliament is unhappy with the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Ernest Addison, for electing a man they described as a “Watchman” to receive their petition.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, told the media that Dr. Addison had disrespected the Minority for the delegation he sent to them.
He expressed his dismay and served notice that his side would boycott the Governor anytime he appeared in Parliament.
“Parliament invites the Bank of Ghana at least twice a year, and he has appeared only three times in seven years, so it’s not strange. It is the height of disrespect that we will come here and he will send the watchman, the watchman at the Bank of Ghana, to come and receive the petition,” he said in front of the BoG on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, during the Occupy Bank of Ghana demonstration.
“Okay, the watchman should come to Parliament as well; when next he needs anything from Parliament, he should send the watchman as well, but we will be back. We will give the police some days to rest, but we will be back.”
DELEGATION
The Head of Security at the Central Bank, Wing Commander Kwame Asare Boateng, in the company of other leadership of the Central Bank, met the protestors in an attempt to accept the Minority’s petition on behalf of Dr. Addison.
The protestors were informed that Governor Addison was engaged in a meeting with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and, as a result, was unavailable to receive the petition.
RETURN
The disappointed demonstrators, considering the “disrespect”, did not hand over their petition to the “Watchman” at the BoG.
Rather, the leader of the Minority, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, indicated that they would return, as they insisted on submitting their case to the Governor personally.
GOOD JOB
The Ghana Police Service is receiving accolades for its show of tact and professionalism yesterday, during the Occupy Bank of Ghana demonstration.
The organisers of the protest had a reason to wave a flag for the personnel of the service who were deployed to supervise the process, as the protest ended peacefully, a fete that arguably is not synonymous with such events.
This paper observed that there were few misunderstandings with regards to the route, but the leadership swiftly intervened to assuage what could have muddied the waters.
The Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, after his men and women had successfully escorted the Minority group from Obra Spot to the BoG Headquarters and ended at Independence Square, shook hands with all of them for a job well done.
Amidst smells and photo opportunities as some of the personnel brought out their mobile phones to take pictures with the IGP, he was heard telling them after the handshake that, “Well done,” “we are proud of you.”
THE ROUTE
From Obra Spot, through the Adabraka Headquarters of the NDC, the demonstration was to pass through Castle Road. At an intersection, the police had mounted a barricade to signal the crowd to turn left to use Castle Road, but the protestors initially objected to it.
The demonstration was grained to a halt around the Accra Business District as some protestors began to spill unprintable words at the police and the government for not allowing them to use their preferred route.
The visibly angry demonstrators insisted they used that route or there would be a showdown, but the personnel of the Ghana Police kept their composure and stood unfazed but alert.
However, the minority leader managed to cool tampers as he rushed to the scene and explained to the demonstrators that they were to take Castle Road per the agreed route. Immediately, the protestors complied and started to move.
The National Youth Organiser of the NDC, George Opare Addo, explained to the media thereafter that the minority leadership had arrangements with the police, and so it was right for the protesters to confirm from the organisers. He added that following the direction of Dr. Ato Forson, he and the teeming youth will follow suit.
The national chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, also told the media that the leader of the NDC was only there to solidarize with the minority MPs and had no control over the movement.
He added that where the leaders of the protest will tell them to pass it, the demonstrators will go.
There was another barricade close to the National Museum and the Accra Polyclinic, which are separated by roads from Asylum Down to Kinbu and vice versa. The other closest landmarks are the Holy Spirit Cathedral Church and the Accra Psychiatry Hospital.
The human block was to signal to the protestors, who were coming from Adabraka on the Castle Road, to continue straight, through the former Electoral Commission office, to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, then to the Ridge roundabout.
From the Ridge roundabout, protestors, guided by the police, proceeded to the National Theatre traffic light, then to the High Court Complex traffic light, and moved on the Atta Mills Highway before making a U-turn at the National Lotteries and terminating peacefully at Independence Square.
