Concerned Ghanaians–USA: We Are Not Backing Down on Our Demo

Demonstrating against the actions and inactions of a sitting government at international events such as the United Nations General Assembly is not alien to the democratic process of Ghana; neither is it to Africa. Many times Africans in the Diaspora take advantage of visits of their home presidents and (government officials) to express their anger against the incompetence, corrupt and abusive tendencies of these presidents and officials back in their home country.

It is through this process that Diasporans get to vent their frustration against their home governments while letting their voices be heard by the international community and agencies. They are able to showcase the passion with which they hold the issues of their respective home countries.

We the Concerned Ghanaians in the USA have released a press statement clearly outlining our intent and resolve to demonstrate against Ghana’s Electoral Commission and President John Mahama for appearing deaf to the calls for a new voters register. We also intend to bring to the notice of the Human Rights Committee of the UN, the police brutalities under the watch of Mahama’s government. Since issuing that statement, we have been subjected to abusive calls and text messages from surrogates of government officials and persons in the NDC. These persons have been threatening the organizers of the impending demonstration; calling them all sorts of names, raining curses on them, and even threatening their lives.

Some of these calls have come from individuals in Ghana who – though failing to mention their names – introduced themselves as members of the ruling government and threatened the organizers that the National Security apparatus will pick up any organizing member of this demonstration who visits Ghana, their reasoning being that, by our action, we are denting the image of the president and the country at the international front.

Another worrying development is when an organizing member of the demonstration received a call from someone identifying himself as an officer of the Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C. urging us to stop the demonstration. Realizing that the organizers were not ready to give up the demonstration, the officer started insulting him and threatening to deal with him if he ever sought the services of the embassy.

Members of NDC-USA have equally not spared us their jaundiced vituperation and castigation since our press release. They have been harassing us with untidy text messages and insulting phones calls, but we care not.

We want to state unequivocally that we are not perturbed at all by any of these cowardly methods. We have resolved as Concerned Ghanaians to demonstrate at the UN General Assembly to bring the attention of the international community to the pressing calls by political parties and civil society for a new voters' register for the 2016 elections. Also we want to bring the attention of the UN Human Right Committee to the police brutality phenomenon rearing its ugly head in our country’s political arena, which contravenes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of Citizens of member countries, including Ghana. As stated in an earlier publication, we will make available to the Committee pictures of the police brutalities on Let My Vote Count protesters.

By our resolve to let our voices be heard, we are ready to face the brunt of their oppression. We will not, and cannot be cowed into submission by any act of intimidation, or threats. Our forebears sacrificed for us, and we are ready to follow in their footsteps.

The DEMO is coming off as planned. Be part of history. It’s now or never. Stand up and be counted!

Come and join us in New York City!

PROTEST INFO:
Date: 30th September, 2015
Meeting Point: 47th Street and 1st Ave, New York (Manhattan)
Time: 8:00 am prompt



….Signed…..
Amponsah Stonash
(Press Coordinator, Concerned Ghanaians-USA)