Pressure Group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) is set to embark on a demonstration on Thursday, November 6 to protest what they describe as “excessive abuse and misuse of state resources by National Democratic Congress (NDC) appointees.”
Addressing a news conference at the Obra Spot in Accra on Tuesday, the Chairman of AFAG, Dr. Ayew Afriyie indicated that the group has also resolved to embark on their action due to government’s poor handling of the economy.
The demonstration dubbed “aagbe w)” demonstration, which literally means ‘they are killing us” is aimed at drawing government’s attention to the rising spate of corruption in the country.
The group believes the protest will compel government to take a bold step to fight the canker.
[contextly_sidebar id=”mALvZt5RfGrtIwodQcaDxhlyXk6NV6EY”]“The demonstration is premised on two things, corruption and hardship. Every new day in the life of the Ghanaian now, you wake up to witness another news of corruption…Today we want you to know that the NDC government led by President Mahama are killing us. As the Ga’s will say ‘aabge w)’; they are killing us. And therefore the demonstration to be held by AFAG is themed ‘aagbe w)’ demonstration meaning; we are being killed,” the group’s Chairman explained.
Mr. Afriyie noted that the massive corruption cases that have lately hit the country have deprived the citizenry from enjoying basic privileges they are legitimately entitled to.
“Because of corruption, …only the NDC and their officials are living better now. Because of corruption, Ghanaians are maimed; mass suicide, joblessness all over but nobody is listening and that is why we say the President is an opportunistic President and for that matter his government is an opportunistic one.”
Mr. Afriyie alleged that the circle interchange project and other major projects being undertaken by government is just a ploy to embezzle state funds.
“They are constructing an interchange out there when we are struggling , when you cannot pay the salaries of workers, when Ghanaians cannot afford a square meal. The cost of this project originally is 46 million euros but we are being made to understand it is 78 million euros.
“Last three weeks, they called for an emergency Parliament sitting and they approved some loans and that is the irony of it. They approved a new interchange at Kasoa at the cost 174 million dollars while the expert said it costs only 32 million dollars.Where is the rest of the money going to? And who is it going to?” he questioned.
Some of the recent revelations of corruption include the payment of over 20,000 “non-existent” national service personnel with a whopping GHC7 million and while the Commissioner on Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Lauretta Lamptey has also been in the news for allegedly spending about 200,000 dollars on rent alone.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana