By Stephen Donkor and Nana Kofi Hammah
Hundreds of Ghanaians this morning joined the NDC’s ‘Yen Tua demonstration to protest the controversial E-levy and high cost of living in the country. The demonstrators, made up of students, Okada riders, NABCO beneficiaries among others also want the government to take urgent steps to get University lecturers who have been on strike for over a month, back to the classroom. Speakers who were mainly leading members of the NDC asked the government to abolish the E-levy, describing it as insensitive. Here is a report by Stephen Donkor and Nana Kofi Hammah who joined the protest.
As early as 6am, the demonstrators started gathering at the Obra spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra. Large sound systems had been mounted at vantage points playing funeral songs to depict what the demonstrators say is the sorry state of the country. The demonstrators were clad in red and black, with placards, some of which read; “E-Levy no, yentua,” “Bawumia, why are you hiding,” “where are the two hundred and forty billion cedis you have borrowed?”. They moved through Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Kinbu road, Independence Avenue and then to Parliament House. Some of them spoke to GBC News.
General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Aseidu Nketiah, said the NDC will abolish the E-levy if it comes to power.
The demonstrators later presented a petition to Parliament, the contents of which was read by the National Youth Organiser of the NDC, George Opare Addo.
It was received by a team from Parliament led by the majority chief whip Annor Dompreh.
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