The NDC Professionals Forum has cautioned the government of Ghana not to trivialized the #FixTheCountry Movement but take their concerns seriously.
In a press statement copied Awake News, the Secretary-General, “The general public has been overwhelmingly attracted to use the #FIXTHECOUNTRY to draw the government’s attention to growing insecurity, erratic supply of electricity, the devastating effect of Galamsey, – the destruction of our forest cover, and our water bodies associated with poor supply of portable drinking water, an unprecedented frequency of fuel price increases, over taxation and stagnated economy among others.”
These issues Forum is of the view that are serious issues of national concern and government must take urgent steps to address them.
“Among the reasons for this doubtful and dismissive attitude by the government is the unsustainable reasons given by the Vice President is his claim that the government was already fixing the country’s problems simply because people can now apply for Scholarships and Passports online, or that the state is digitizing through house numbering and street naming, etc.” – The Statement said
The Forum has accused the government of a bad fate in the Ghana Police going to court to secure a court order to stop the planned demonstration after a meeting with the National Security Minister and the IGP had agreed with the organizer to allow the demonstration to proceed as planned today.
“In a bizarre twist, we learned that the National Security had met with the leaders and organizers of this ever-growing Campaign and agreed with their request to organize a demonstration in Accra.” – The statement said
“However, in another development, whereas the National Security including the Inspector General of Police appeared to have agreed to allow a demonstration on Sunday, May 9th 2021, the Regional Police Command concurrently proceeded to the court to secure an injunction to prohibit the demonstration.” – They added
Read the full statement:
DO NOT TRIVIALIZE THE # FIX THE COUNTRY AGENDA
-NDC PROFESSIONALS FORUM CAUTIONS GOVERNMENT AND STATE OFFICIALS
Last week, the country was thrown into a frenzy over what started as an innocuous Tweet by a young Ghanaian on his Twitter, Facebook, Instagram captioned # FIX THE COUNTRY
It is amazing how within a week that Tweet was quoted in all major and minor news portals in Ghana, not to ignore the fact that it is now the clarion call for the teeming youth of Ghana to ask for solutions to their peculiar problems of unemployment.
The general public has been overwhelmingly attracted to use the #FIXTHECOUNTRY to draw the government’s attention to growing insecurity, erratic supply of electricity, the devastating effect of Galamsey, – the destruction of our forest cover, and our water bodies associated with poor supply of portable drinking water, an unprecedented frequency of fuel price increases, over taxation and stagnated economy among others.
The hashtag # FIXtheCountry has within a week received over a million subscribers and it is expected to be growing over time.
Following this, the government communications machinery was pushed to full throttle aimed at downplaying the ever-growing impact of the # FIX THE COUNTRY Tweet.
Very characteristic of the overconfident Government and NPP Communications machinery, a counter-mining harsh tag # FIX YOUR ATTITUDE was unsuccessfully launched late last week aimed at diverting the attention of the people from the government and to the direct public discussions at individuals and their attitudes…what a pity !!!
We of the NDC PROFORUM have read very doubtful reasons giving to Ghanaians as to why we should not be worried about the impact of the # FIXTHE COUNTRY Campaign.
Among the reasons for this doubtful and dismissive attitude by the government is the unsustainable reasons given by the Vice President is his claim that the government was already fixing the country’s problems simply because people can now apply for Scholarships and Passports online, or that the state is digitizing through house numbering and street naming, etc.
In a bizarre twist, we learned that the National Security had met with the leaders and organizers of this ever-growing Campaign and agreed with their request to organize a demonstration in Accra.
However, in another development, whereas the National Security including the Inspector General of Police appeared to have agreed to allow a demonstration on Sunday, May 9th 2021, the Regional Police Command concurrently proceeded to the court to secure an injunction to prohibit the demonstration.
The NDC PROFORUM detests this show of absolute bad faith and double standard by the government, in trying to outwit the Organizers. How could the National Security meet and agree to permit a demonstration and at the same time secure an injunction to prohibit the same demonstration billed for Sunday 9th May 2021.
Even though we in the NDC PROFORUM are not unmindful of the health implications of mass gathering of demonstrators as a possible super spreader of Covid-19 pandemic, however, we condemn any attempt by the government and her appointees to downplay the emotions of Ghanaians and also caution against any attempt at using deception and force to prevent the free expression by Ghanaians on prevailing hardships in the country.
Without more, any critical observer who followed similar circumstances in North Africa will be quick to ask for caution and circumspection on the part of the government in handling this development in the country.
This is because the President more than anyone else is fully aware of the implications of not handling this matter well and beyond the precepts of government and Party propaganda and miscommunication.
We must all be worried about this development and to be guided by the circumstances leading to the so-called Arab Spring and its consequential devastation and upheavals in countries such Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon and Syria and Hong Kong.
Without any reservation or restraint, we in the NDC Professionals Forum fully identify ourselves with the legitimate concerns of the Youth and all suffering Ghanaians and fully support the # FIXTHECOUNTRY Campaign.
What we need is positive engagement and non-partisan mobilization of all Ghanaians in a concerted effort at fixing the problems of this country as we have more than enough inherent capacity to do so. Otherwise, we may all have ourselves to blame when we get to the tipping point.
We want to advise the government not to depend on the might and brutal tactics of the Police and the Military because experience worldwide have shown that no amount of armored vehicles or Submachine guns have ever been able to stop the people on the move driven by their passion, emotions and convictions
This the time for the great leadership of the country and not the time for the government to be touting unverifiable
We of the NDC PROFORUM call on the Ghana Police Service to desist from resorting to court processes to regularly frustrate the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Ghanaians.
A little social psychology should inform those in power that Ghana, will be better served if such demonstrations are allowed to enable aggrieved Ghanaians to vent their grievances rather than being prevented from expressing their Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms
Who said it’s only the government Praise Choir that must be allowed to sing in the Choir. Everyone must be heard in-country
We call on the President to take immediate and transparent actions to reverse the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity, poor provision of portable drinking water, failed promises, irregular supply of electricity, unsustainable and doubtful Free SHC implementation poor sanitation, and general intolerance of dissenting views and impunity in the country.
We call on the Peace Council, the Clergy, and all meaning Ghanaians to be wary of the growing discrimination in our educational institutions on the basis of religion and beliefs in complete violation of our time-tested practices and peaceful coexistence and Constitutional guarantees.
The NDC PROFORUM is a registered Civil Society Think Tank made up of Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Scientists, Researchers, Medical Practitioners, Accountants, Professors, Lecturers, Bankers Media Personnel etc who are social Democrats by training and ideological persuasion.
Mr President the time to act is now
# FIXTHE COUNTRY
Signed
Secretary-General
NDC PROFESSIONALS FORUM