OccupyBoG Demonstration: Chants Of "Revolution" And Calls For Dr Addison To Resign Dominate Protests

• A mammoth demonstration that called for the resignation of BoG Governor Dr. Ernest Addison and his deputies was held on October 2, 2023
• At least 5,000 protesters, made up of the youth, took part in the demonstration partly triggered by huge losses made by the BoG in 2022
• Protestors were captured in videos chanting war songs and calling for Dr Addison to leave office immediately
• In an exclusive interview with YEN.com.gh, founding president of think tank IMANI Centre for Policy and Education Franklin Cudjoe commended organisers of the protest

Thousands of Ghanaians clad in red, others in black chanted war songs as they marched towards the Bank of Ghana headquarters in Accra as part of a mammoth protest dubbed "OccupyBoG".

Chants of "revolution" and songs in local languages calling for the resignation of the central bank Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, and all his deputies, filled the calm Tuesday, October 3, 2023, morning air as protesters took to the streets.

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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Arise Ghana, COPEC-GH and many other civil society and pressure groups participated in the protests estimated that over 5,000 disgruntled Ghanaians joined the demonstration.

Videos and photos of the ongoing demonstration, sighted by YEN.com.gh, show fully armed riot police personnel, some on horseback, providing protection and guarding against unruly behaviour by the charged crowd of protesters.

The demonstrators first converged at Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to march on designated routes that ended at the Black Star Square, formerly Independence Square.

Founding president of think tank, IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, told YEN.com.gh in an exclusive interview that the demonstration could not have happened at a better time.

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"In any democracy, people must be allowed to express their opinions in divergent ways, and one of the most civilised ways to express yourself in a democracy is what the Minority MPs and the NDC as well as many Ghanaians who joined them, actually expressed," he said.

BoG makes huge losses in 2022

The demonstration is partly triggered by BoG's huge loss of GH¢60.81 billion for the 2022 financial year, an outcome the NDC MPs in Parliament have described as unprecedented in Ghana's history.

Although the central bank has explained that the losses resulted from the government’s debilitating domestic debt restructuring activities, and the depreciation of the local currency, among others, the NDC and other groups say the Governor has not been prudent.

The October 3, 2023, demonstration follows a successful three-day protest by Democracy Hub, dubbed #OccupyJulorbiHouse, that targeted the Jubilee House and President Nana Akufo-Addo's poor decisions about the economy.

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Ghana police outline route for protest against Bank of Ghana

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported in a previous story that the Ghana Police Service outlined the route for the Minority's demonstration against the Bank Of Ghana. The Minority will not be allowed to picket at the Bank of Ghana Headquarters.

The Ghana Police Service has also announced that some roads will be blocked to accommodate the protestors.

Kufuor seen crying after wife Theresa’s death

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh has reported that former President John Agyekum Kufuor has been videoed crying following the death of his wife Theresa Kufuor.

The former President is seen in a trending video wiping away tears as he engages with sympathisers mourning with him.

Former First Lady Theresa Kufuor died on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at the age of 87 at her home at Peduase.

Source: YEN.com.gh