Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Information Minister

Government has described the demonstration organised by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) as a manifestation of a better Ghana promised by the Mills administration.

According to the Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa the demonstrators were not pummeled by the security personnel as happened under the Kufuor regime.

He accused the previous government of reneging on its responsibility to protect rights of the demonstrators and attributed the death of the late Danny Ofori Atta to alleged assaults on him by security personnel during one of the many demonstrations organised by the Committee for Joint Action (CJA), last year.

He was expressing government’s opinion on the demonstration held by AFAG on Tuesday in an interview with Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoe.

He questioned the basis for the demonstration, saying government has succeeded in putting the economy on a sound footing.

Mr. Ablakwa said the government had to “clear the mess” left behind by the Kufuor administration, citing salaries of public servants which he said were years in arrears

According to him, the country’s currency had stabilized, and the World Bank’s half a billion loan to Ghana is enough testimony of the confidence reposed in the country’s economy.

But a leading member of AFAG, Samuel Awuku said the time for campaigning and propaganda is over and called on the Deputy Information Minister to concentrate on solving the teething problems facing the country.

He insisted the cost of living has been sky rocketing and criticized the two year freeze in public sector employment as a slap in the face of Ghanaians, especially after government promised to provide jobs for the youth.

Samuel Awuku hinted the group would take the demonstration to the other regional capitals if government fails to address their concerns


Listen to interviews with Messers Ablakwah and Awuku in the attached audio


Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana