On Saturday, November 5, hundreds of Ghanaians protested in the streets of the nation’s capital Accra, demanding that President Nana Akufo-Addo step down in the wake of record inflation and the government’s handling of the country’s economic crisis.
President Akufo-Addo last week pleaded with Ghanaians to back his decision to apply for an IMF loan, despite having vowing a “Ghana without aid.”
People from all areas of life are being impacted by the economic crisis.
Nurse Anita Asamoah was present at the demonstration.
“There is conflict of interest in the way our president is ruling with his cousin,” she said. “When they go for loans, nine percent of the money goes to his own private bank business, which is very wrong.
“We just want them to step down. It is not a matter of fight or we just want to be on the street ranting for nothing. He should just step down so that peace will come and let someone else come and do it.”
Martin Luther Kpebu, the movement’s chief organiser known as Kume Preko Reloaded, continued: “The president’s family profits from every cedi and dollar we borrow thanks to a data bank that provides advice and aids in the sale of government securities. Therefore, we are here to urge the president to resign. It’s time to put an end to corruption, nepotism, and cronyism.”
Ghana is asking the IMF for a $3 billion loan to help it deal with its currency’s collapse and record-high inflation of 37%.
The majority of the protesters donned red T-shirts with the phrase “You might as well kill me” on them.
According to student Carlos Adams, the economy is hurting everyone.
“Our educational system has been run aground. Our economy is in a ditch. You cannot buy a gallon of petrol. A bag of maize cannot be bought so three square meals now is a problem. Survival is for the fittest, and that is not what we voted for him for.”
The president’s decision to ask the IMF for assistance has sparked worries that the administration will enact austerity measures that will burden an already burdened populace with skyrocketing prices.
Shop owners in Accra shut down in mid-October in protest at the skyrocketing expense of living.
