[ 2014-10-30 ]

AFAG demo rocks Accra November 6
Leadership of pressure group, Alliance for
Accountable Governance (AFAG), has set Thursday,
November 6, 2014 for a massive demonstration
against corruption and mismanagement.

In view of the harsh economic conditions in the
country, the group has decided to label the
upcoming protest march as ‘Aagbe Wo’
demonstration—literally meaning ‘We are being
killed’ demonstration.

At a press conference in Accra yesterday, AFAG
Chairman, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, said “Corruption
has become more of the norm than the exception
under President John Mahama and his ruling
National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.”

He noted that “no week passes without another
act of corruption being exposed under the NDC
regime.”

Basis

“This NDC government has left a huge stock of
debt without value for money or capital
investments,” he said.

In the wake of what Dr Afriyie described as
“government’s insensitivity towards the plight
of Ghanaians”, he announced, “The Alliance for
Accountable Governance (AFAG) and the good people
of this country will on Thursday, 6th November,
2014, take to the streets to bare our teeth
against the enormous corruption perpetuated and
supervised by the NDC government.”

He emphasised, “This well organised and
despicable crime against the good people of this
country has dwindled the economic fortunes of the
state and virtually every household in Ghana,
because the economic mess is debilitating. No
consistent supply of electricity and water, yet we
pay ever-increasing tariffs on utilities. World
market price of oil is on the decline, yet we are
paying high prices for petrol and its related
products. They say the dollar is falling against
the cedi, yet import duties are so high that
various trading companies are folding up and the
prices of items soaring. Cost of living is so
high. The home we have is now a hell to live in.
Mr President, Ghanaians are maiming. The economy
is hot and killing—(Aagbe Wo)”.

He therefore charged, “We need to rise up and
stand for our right.”

Issues

Dr Afriyie made an analysis of the cost involved
in some of the ongoing construction works in the
country, most of which he said the figures had
been inflated by the government.

While the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange cost $32
million, the Sofo Line interchange—the most
intricate in Ghana—cost $38 million, and the N1
Highway with six lanes and two interchanges
spanning from Tetteh Quarshie to Mallam cost $110
million, the AFAG Chairman said, noting that
“However, that of Kasoa—a much smaller
one—is to be constructed by a corrupt Brazilian
company at $174m.”

This $174 million loan, according to the AFAG
boss, “was part of the loans pushed on
Parliament for approval during their emergency
sitting three weeks ago.”

It is alleged that the supposed Brazilian company,
Queiroz Galvao Construcao, is a baby of someone at
the highest level of government, who is
untouchable.

Queiroz Galvao Construcao is the same company that
constructed the controversial Umbraer jet
($25 million-turned $88 million) hangar
at the Kotoka International Airport; and the same
company is constructing the interchange at the
Kwame Nkrumah Circle at the cost of which AFAG
claims had been inflated to €78 million—even
though it was estimated to have cost €46
million.

For the group, “What is more intriguing is the
approval of $168 million loan three weeks ago as
extension works on the already inflated circle
project.”

This was what compelled Dr Afriyie to ask, “What
kind of extension is worth more than the N1
Highway from Tetteh Quarshie to Mallam?”

This same company is said to have been awarded the
Tamale airport project.

Concern

Meanwhile, AFAG had indicated that it has
intelligence from the corridors of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) which indicates
that “government has been advised to introduce
VAT on petrol and other petroleum products.”

If that turns out to be true, leadership of the
group indicated the preparedness of Ghanaians to
reject it.

“Fellow Ghanaians, our lives are in danger by
these untruthful economic scavengers. There is
merciless hardship visiting every household,
except for the NDC and its appointees. Worst off
is the fear of workers going home as paupers.
Pensions are in danger. How on earth can a retiree
be on GH¢200 a month? Workers’ lives are being
toyed with; they cannot locate their deductions.
This is painful. Certainly government is not
getting it right. It is their money give it back
to them; taking them to court without releasing
their funds to them is shameful and pathetic,”
he noted.

In this regard, leadership of AFAG has therefore
called on all Ghanaians—young and old, employed
and jobless, home and abroad, civil societies
alike, public advocates, political parties and
trade unions—to join AFAG on Thursday, 6th
November, as we demonstrate to show to the world,
the level of economic hardship, corruption has
plunged Ghanaians into.”

The demonstration, which would start at the famous
Obra Spot, is expected to end at the Hearts Park
in Accra.

Source - Daily Guide

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