Some members of the Concerned Ghanaians for Responsible Governance (CGRG), the group that organized Occupy Flagstaff House in 2014, have formed a new group called the CitizenGhana Movement (CGM).
A statement announcing the formation of the new group said: “The re-born and rebranded CGRG will operate/trade under the name “CitizenGhana Movement (CGM).”
The statement strictly clarified that the new group “is an entirely different entity from OccupyGhana.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”bqs4fNHIXqVW6iqiurGRpuAWrDRjRyZh”]“To reiterate, CGM is a citizens’ movement, open to all citizens of Ghana who want to join others execute the agenda of good governance for our country.”
CGRG; a non-partisan group was formed in June 2014 when the nation was suffering under the weight of crippling socio-economic challenges.
The group the organised and led the 1st July, 2014 #OccupyFlagstaffHouse event which saw hundreds of middle class citizens taking to the streets for the first time to protest.
The group has since initiated moves aimed at keeping the government on its toes and making public officials accountable to the citizenry.
The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has always accused members of the CGRC popularly known as OccupyGhana of being sympathizers of the NPP.
It is also unclear how the formation of the new group will affect the programs and plans of Occupy Ghana.
The CGRC’s latest statement stressed that the group “is openly and transparently non-partisan and is the natural home for all Ghanaians who want to participate in the good governance of this country regardless of tribe, religion or political party affiliation.”
It further indicated that the group has “undergone major restructuring” ahead of its one year anniversary celebrations beginning June 23, 2015.
Below is the full statement
CGRG NOW “CITIZENGHANA MOVEMENT”
Concerned Ghanaians for Responsible Governance (CGRG), the group that organized the 1st July 2014“#OccupyFlagstaffHouse” demonstration has undergone major restructuring to enable all Ghanaians, regardless of political persuasion and religious inclination to join the group and participate in its activities. After the successful demonstration, the group agreed to partnerships with other individuals and groups, but realised its core aims and objectives of good governance and inclusiveness were not being sufficiently addressed.
In a radical move as part of its 1st anniversary celebrations which start on 23rd June 2015, CGRG has undertaken the following reforms:
- The expansion of the number of directors from the original 6 to 14, in order to enable more diverse groups of people to join what is effectively the steering committee of CGM.
- In addition, CGRG is opening up its membership to all Ghanaians especially the poor and vulnerable as well as working class people, professionals, technocrats and all other Ghanaians who want to have a voice on the governance of this country without yielding to the preferences of one political party or the other. CGRG is openly and transparently non-partisan and is the natural home for all Ghanaians who want to participate in the good governance of this country regardless of tribe, religion or political party affiliation. Its members will be recruited from markets, streets, schools and all the towns and villages which make up Ghana, while it continues to have a strong internet and social media presence. It is a group for all Ghanaians who want to see a Ghana they are proud of, wherever in the world they may be.
- The re-born and rebranded CGRG will operate/trade under the name “CitizenGhana Movement (CGM)” and CGRG wants to point out clearly that this group is an entirely different entity from OccupyGhana. To reiterate, CGM is a citizens’ movement, open to all citizens of Ghana who want to join others execute the agenda of good governance for our country.
Activities for the 1st Anniversary celebrations include the following:
- Launch of the Fly The Flag campaign onTuesday, 23rd June 2015. The Fly The Flag (FTF) Campaign calls on all Ghanaians to fly the flag of Ghana to move the political discourse of Ghana fully onto issues affecting Ghana and not to individuals or political parties.
- Let’s Talk Ghana – a public debate on Ghana; its prospects; the opportunities that exist for Ghanaians to work to bring Ghana to its full potential; and how we can get our leaders to listen and act – 1st July 2015 Further information on CGRG (now trading as CGM) is available from its website –www.concernedghanaians.org
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan