According to AIT news, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2016 elections in Ghana, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday led several thousands of party members and sympathisers to demonstrate over the erratic power supply in the country.
The mammoth protest christened “Won Gbo” meaning we are dying, formed part of a series of demonstrations to hit the country in the passing months.
It was also to demonstrate against what the party said were perceived corruption, unemployment and hardship under the Mahama-led administration.
The demonstrators virtually painted the streets of the business districts of the capital in red and black, the colours used for the march.
The peaceful protest which started from the popular Obra Spot ended at the Hearts of Oak Park near the Arts Centre where leaders of the party took turns to address the gathering.
The protesters hoisted placards with inscriptions such as “Mahama must go”, “Bring back our light”, “John ben nie”, “Take your dum and give us sor”, “Governance is a serious business” amidst singing and dancing to “jama” and some traditional tunes.
Some of the protesters carried damaged electronic gadgets along to portray their frustration over the unreliable power supply in the country and its accompanying effects.
There were cheered on by pupils of Reverend Ernest Bruce Memorial School and the Mantse Tackle Liberty Cluster of Schools at Adabraka, who left their classroomsto watch the march.
Personnel from the Ghana Police Service, together with security guards of the party, provided security throughout the more than three-hour walk though they encountered several skirmishes with a section of the crowd which proved defiant during the entire exercise. They broke down police blockades on several occasions and anytime they did, they ran as if they had won eternal freedom.
Shop owners and traders who stood on the shoulders of the streets designated for the march cheered on the marchers as they walked through the principal streets.
Nana Akufo-Addo, addressing the crowd at the Hearts Park, accused President John Mahama of being unconcerned about the energy crisis which he said was collapsing industries.
He said the NPP would continue to demand for the right things to be done until the changes Ghanaians expeected were effected.
