Invokes the forces of torment on President?s head

SPEAKERS AT yesterday?s ?Wahala March?, organised by the Committee for Joint Action (CJA), took turns to lambast the Kufuor administration for what it termed the gross manifestation of insensitivity to the plight of Ghanaians.

To former President Rawlings, nobody should stage a coup against the Kufuor government. Instead they should be made to suffer the perpetual anger and defiance of the people.

?If you want to punish Kufuor and his pack, keep them there and let them do the right thing?, the sweat-soaked ex-president charged at the crowd, who had hijacked the Osu cemetery grounds to listen to him.

According to Rawlings, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration has shown time and again that they are a cruel, corrupt and insensitive government that should not be allowed to have its way any longer.

?Let us defy the wrong things and obey the right things?, he said to the cheered crowd. ?Let us torment them to do the right?, he added amidst shouts of ?J. J.? ?J. J.? ?J. J.?

He said Kufuor wanted to terrorize Ghanaians to submit to his insensitive harsh economic policies, suggesting that Kufuor?s insensitivity is an abuse of human rights.

He said Ghanaians should not pretend that they are a proud people and that all these would not have occurred if the NPP had not stolen their way into power, stressing: ?They cheated, murdered and stole their way to power?.

?I hope that this country will not see this kind of abuse from any government again?, he said, promising that the struggle in defiance of the NPP?s bad governance would not end with the ?Wahala March? but would be extended nationwide.

He said many people thought he was overdoing it when he once said the NPP government was made up of a bunch of thieves, liars and murderers. According to him, he feels vindicated by how the Kufuor government was overburdening the people.

?We know how to use force and we can bite if we want to?, he charged.

The Chairman of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Obed Asamoah, said Ghanaians should join forces and bring the NPP government down since ?it is only when the NPP is brought down that Ghanaians could get the relieve that it desires?.

The flagbearer of the NDC, Prof. J. E. A. Mills, said Ghanaians are suffering and that nothing should be allowed to distract the march for survival.

The General Secretary of the Convention People?s Party (CPP), Dr Nii Noi Dowuona, said the CJA would sustain pressure until justice is done in this country.

For him, the effect of the NPP?s economic policies is being shown in the pockets of all Ghanaians. He called on Kufour to do nothing but to listen to them if he wants to remain in power.

Presenting a petition on behalf of the CJA, Dr. Ahmed Ramadan, who is also the National Vice Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), said Ghanaians are dissatisfied with the growing subservience of the NPP government to the prescriptions and conditionalities of the IMF and World Bank to the detriment and well-being of the masses.

?The NPP government cannot keep on pilling taxes on Ghanaians when the same government refuses to curb its overblown expenditure?.

To this end, he noted that the NPP government is gradually undermining confidence in the country?s democratic institutions through its policy of deception and lies.

According to him the culture of impunity manifested by the arrogance of government and its pursuit of selective justice is an affront to the people.

He urged Parliament to demonstrate its independence and commitment to Ghanaians by reviewing taxes, levies and margins which make up over 50 percent of the price of petroleum products.

Dr. Ramadan said it is the only way that the House could help reduce the hardships, especially among the poor and the disadvantaged.

?We urge Parliament to ensure honesty and transparency in the management of the economy?, he said, adding that the House should desist from approving economic measures that impose undue hardship on the people.

He said the ?Wahala March? was about the increase in prices of petroleum products, the rising cost of living and severe economic hardships, the insensitivity of the NPP government as well as their political arrogance.

Receiving the petition on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Freddy Blay, said the action taken by the CJA was a demonstration that democracy was blossoming in the country.

Some of the placards carried by the demonstrators read; ?From NPP Zero Tolerance To Full Corruption?, ?30,000 for fuel to satisfy NPP 8 ministers?, ?Medical Bills Wahala?, ?Boola self wahala?, ?Say no to Kufuor?s fuel tsunami? among others.

Notable names that took part in the demonstration include Bede Zeideng, Acting General Secretary of the NDC, Danny Ofori Atta, Chairman of the EGLE party, Dr. David Pessey of the National Reform Party, Ofosu Ampofo, National Organiser of the NDC, Madam Ama Benyiwa-Doe of the NDC, Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jr. of the CPP as well as the former First Lady, Mrs. Rawlings.