In a move that smacks of paranoia and highhandedness, Ghana’s President John Mahama has managed to persuade the organisers of the one hour talk and presentation on Ghana’s democratic gains he was to deliver at Chatham House in London not to allow any Ghanaian citizen on the premises or to ask any awkward questions. He has insisted on this as a security measure and threatened to pull out if his requests were not adhered to.

According to a source at the Ghana High Commission in the UK, Mr Mahama was said to be privately unhappy at the large number of Ghanaians that had registered to attend the event through the Chatham house website. The High Commissioner, Ambassador Kweku Danso Boafo together with other officials of the chancery at the commission were instructed to work closely with Mr Alex Vine, the lead person on International Affairs and Head of the Africa Desk at Chatham House to sift out any names that bore a Ghanaian surname.

This action has caused widespread indignation and anger in the Ghanaian community and raised questions as to whether Ghana, much touted as one of the African countries where democracy is thriving really means business. Mr Kwami Dzikunu, a member of the Ghana Union, an association that seeks the welfare of Ghanaians living in the UK, who spoke to our reporter said it was disgraceful and unpardonable and this was the first time that he had heard that any country’s president and an African President for that matter had barred his own people who he was supposed to serving from attending an event.”This is power gone mad, its just bizarre” he said. Naa Amerley Quarshie, a student at Lancaster University who actually also voted for Mr Mahama’s party at the last election said “I had hoped to meet my mentor and hear him speak, but i was not allowed to register. I have been attending Chatham House events for the last three years as part of my research work on international affairs. I am ashamed that a man i travelled all the way to Ghana and voted for, a man i believed in would behave this way. Indeed it looks like i have wasted my time coming all the way from school into London. I am so deflated and disappointed”!

So are thousands of Ghanaians and those who love, cherish and respect Ghana Miss Quarshie!

Desmond Murray Reporter The African Voice 305 Camden High Street London NW1 4TR desiafricanvoice@gmail.com