Protestors, calling themselves the Coalition of Concerned Ghanaians, poured onto the streets of Accra yesterday to express their opposition to the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy), which is before Parliament for consideration.
Dubbed: ‘Yentua’, a Twi word meaning ‘We won’t pay’, the demonstration, which was led by the youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), also saw groups such as Justice 4 Ghana advocacy group, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Coalition of Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) trainees, Coalition of Concerned University Students, head porters and okada riders participating.
It was not just a demonstration against the E-Levy, as other participants demanded an end to the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) strike, highlighted the grievances of NABCO trainees and the high taxes on petroleum products.
The Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the traditional starting point for demonstrations in the national capital, was full of men and women in red outfits at about 8 a.m. yesterday, amidst drumming and dancing.
Key figures
The General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia; the National Chairman of the NDC, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo; the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC in charge of Operations, Mr Peter Boamah Otokunor; the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Sam Nartey George; the MP for Madina, Mr Francis Xavier Sosu; the MP for Sagnarigu, Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini, were some of the NDC bigwigs who joined the demonstration.
The protesters walked through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue to Tudu and Kinbu and further through the National Theatre and Ridge Roundabout and ended at Parliament House, where they presented a petition to the leadership, led by the Majority Chief Whip, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, and the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu.
The National Youth Organiser of the NDC, Mr George Opare Addo, whose office spearheaded the demonstration, explained that the protest, which was the first in a series of actions to be undertaken by the party, was to give backing to the Minority in Parliament in their bid to kick against the E-Levy and call for better reforms.
Inscriptions on placards displayed by some the demonstrators were: “Bawumiah’s silence on E-levy is alarming”, “E-levy is equal to E-fraud”, “Propaganda NABCO jobs”, Unemployed youth chased out like dogs”, “Four more but we have cried more”, “Regulate okada with an okada act in Parliament” and “Pay UTAG, students are suffering”.
