The streets of Accra, Ghana’s bustling capital city of over two million people, recently witnessed two impactful protests reflecting a growing discontent with the government’s performance in key areas such as economic management and basic public infrastructure.
The first protest was staged by the residents of Ashiaman, a vibrant community demanding urgent repairs to their deteriorating road infrastructure. Despite a marked police presence, the community members stood their ground, temporarily blocking major highways in an act of civil disobedience.
Among the protestors was their local Representative, Mr. Ernest Henry Norgbey, who openly supported his constituents and criticised the government for its inaction. The demonstrators suggested their community’s problems were being ignored because it is a stronghold of the National Democratic Congress, the main governmental opposition.
Later the same day a larger demonstration took place, with a coalition of the parliamentary minority and various civil society groups gathering at the Circle Interchange in Accra. The Ghana Police Service had issued a press statement the day before, detailing preparations to ensure the protest remained peaceful, which was largely successful.
The protestors represented wider dissatisfaction with Ghana’s economy, which they attribute to the poor performance of the Bank of Ghana under present Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison. The rallying cry on the streets was ‘MO NGYAE SIKADIE NA YE BRE,’ translating to, ‘stop stealing, we are suffering.’
Under Addison’s leadership, Ghana has reportedly lost about $6.3B USD of its currency reserves in 2 years. There have also been claims that the central bank has printed GHS 77 billion for government spending. These figures, coupled with the country’s seventeenth trip to the International Monetary Fund for a GHS 37.8 billion bailout, underline the escalating economic crisis.
As Ghanaians continue to share their stories and demand change, hashtags like #OccupyBoG are trending on X, a popular microblogging site.
In response to the demonstrations, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana dismissed the protests as unnecessary, arguing that the parliamentary minority should use other channels to voice their concerns. His statement can be read in full here.
The current national daily minimum wage in Ghana stands at a mere GHS14.88 ($1.42). This stark figure underpins a deep-seated need for policies that truly uplift and empower the country’s citizens, rather than simply acting as a placebo. As dissatisfaction among Ghanaians continues to rise, the calls for actionable results that improve the everyday lives of the populace are growing louder.