Yesterday, conveners of the #FixTheCountry movement embarked on their long awaited peaceful march which was initially delayed intentionally by some elements in government who never wanted the demonstration to see the light of day. Because according to them, the #FixTheCountry conveners should fix themselves rather than asking them (leaders) to fix the country.
They were of the opinion that a lot of the rot that is taking place in the country is as a result of the recalcitrance and unlawful acts by these same citizens who are requesting for the country to the fixed. It is quiet funny the way both sides of the divide; “the government and the citizenry” are pointing accusing fingers at each other.
But in my candid opinion and to be very sincere with Ghanaians, the #FixTheCountry demonstration was a waste of time as it will not result in any changes with the way Ghana is being run. We will still continue to have rising cost of goods and services, our poor and inefficient healthcare system, and the massive graduate unemployment in the country.
Fine, demonstrations, per our democratic constitution is the right of every citizen of this country. People demonstrate for several reasons and in this instance, #FixTheCountry was meant on drawing the attention of leaders of this country to the harsh economic conditions citizens are currently facing.
This is not the first time a demonstration of this nature and magnitude has taken place. It will be recalled that in 2015, several persons led by Ghanaian celebrities including Yvonne Nelson and Sarkodie embarked on a “DumsorMustStop” vigil which began at around 4:00pm at the University of Ghana overhead bridge in Accra. At the end of the day, dumsor did not move an inch. We still continued to have dumsor for some time. If demonstrations are effective, dumsor should have ended just a month or two after the demo.
Now, #FixTheCountry campaign is the latest movement and they are demanding for better living conditions for the citizenry. But if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and those he is running the affairs of the country with decide to give a deaf ears to issues that were raised during the demonstration, nothing will change. I mean, absolutely nothing will change and we will still be at where we are.
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I am very confident that a demonstration can be effective only when those in the helm of affairs are willing to change the way they do things.
You may disagree with my opinion, but just as the democratic saying goes; “Opinions are like noses; everyone has one” and this is what I candidly feel about yesterday’s #FixTheCountry demonstration.
That notwithstanding, let us not take anything away from the organizers and participants of the demonstration. They did very well by comporting themselves in an orderly manner which keeps on strengthening Ghana’s democracy.
At the end of the day, Ghana first – Ghana deserves far better than what we are getting.
Kwamina Dextro
Ewurama Acheampoma