Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, it is indeed an honour to have you at this press conference. On the 5th of January 2011, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), in a Press statement pleaded with Government as a matter of urgency and for the social and economic health of the nation, to reduce the prices of petroleum products within a ten day (10) time frame or, incur the wrath of Ghanaians.
The ultimatum has elapsed and governments’ attitude clearly shows their unpreparedness to lessen the economic plight of the already burdened Ghanaian.
There is no doubt that, the economic issues confronting Ghanaians are huge and crippling. As we speak, parents are unable to pay for school fees, hardworking Ghanaians cannot afford three square meals, businesses are collapsing, and workers are losing their jobs with unemployment on the increase.
In the midst of these hardships, we expected the government to have listened to the plight of the overburdened Ghanaians and reduce the tax rates. We are saddened by the failure of the President Mills’ NDC government to honour its social contract he made with Ghanaians. We are indeed suffering. The deception of the government is clear. We are in an era of broken promises. We were promised reduction on taxes but we have increases instead. We were promised more jobs and today, industries are collapsing. We were promised better living conditions and now, we have bitter living conditions.
AFAG and its allies, today stand shoulder to shoulder with the many Ghanaian families, mothers, and bread winners who can no longer withstand this harrowing economic policies of the Mills’- Mahama administration.
On this note, the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) and our allies; Generational Youth Movement (GYM), Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF), traders associations and labour unions wish to inform the general public of planned mass peaceful demonstration to register our protest against the harsh economic policies of the government on the 26th of January, 2011. The protest march starts from the Obra Spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle at 6:00am and ends at the Hearts Park near the Arts Centre.
God Bless.
SIGNED
SAMUEL AWUKU
MARTIN ADJEI MENSAH
ABU RAMADAN
ARNOLD BOATENG
OPOKU DAVIS
RICHARD NYAMAH
MAAME AFUA
KWABENA BOMFEH JNR
ACHEAMPONG BRIGHT