CJA demonstrates against GT sale

Accra, Aug. 12 GNA - Hundreds of supporters of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) on Tuesday besieged Parliament House to protest against government's intended approval of the Sale Purchase agreement under which 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom (GT) would be sold to Vodafone B.V. International.

The marchers who were organised from various parts of Accra arrived at the scene very early in groups.

The demonstrators wore red armbands and some were clad in colours of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) singing party songs while others carry placards with various inscriptions.

Some of the messages were: "GT is for Ghanaians", "Vodafone are wagadrill", "Nana Addo; Believe in Ghana, believe in GT", and "Hands off Ghana Telecom! Arise Ghana".

Some leading members of the CJA who took part in the demonstration were Mr Kwesi Pratt, Mr Kwamina Ahwoi, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhaji Ahmed Ramadan.

Other functionaries of the NDC, who also took part in the picketing included Mr Edward Annan, Mr Nii Lante Vanderpuye and Dr Tony Aidoo. Professor John Evans Atta Mills, flag bearer of the NDC, addressing the jubilant crowd condemned the NPP government's intention to offload 70 per cent of GT shares to Vodafone B.V. International.

He said the sale of the shares to Vodafone was an insult to the ingenuity of Ghanaians, adding that Ghanaians were capable of managing GT successfully.

He said the NPP government was creating false impression about the opposition's protest against the shares and noted that tolerance of dissenting opinions was necessary for the growth of democracy in Ghana. Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority leader in Parliament, announced that the government had resolved to reconsider the terms of the sale of shares in GT.

He said even though this spelt out a partial victory for the opposition, every effort should be made to ensure that the interest of Ghanaians was considered.

Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed his revulsion at the way government was selling state companies without considering any alternatives to address the crisis such companies faced.

He said there were no guarantees that GT would be better off when sold to a foreign company since the sale of some companies had not yet showed any positive result.

Professor Atta Bintim, a member of the NDC, said there were enough competent human resources in the country and changing management of GT was a better option.

He also accused the government of abusing the sovereignty of Ghanaians since it was bent on satisfying its interest and not the interest of the people of Ghana.