Left the UN Conference in New York City right after the president of Ghana’s presentation. I’ve never heard a figure like what he asked for from the UN.
So if they carry all these money give dem, where them dey take pass? Hand on my heart I dey tell you there’s no evidence for all the moneys these people dey borrow in our name. And if the people, whose struggles you document to go ask for money, want accountability, you send Koti make they dey beat them? Lord knows this battle is Ours. Wonna go hear am
🌎 Apologies to my non-Ghanaian followers for lack of context on last few tweets. An explainer:
🇬🇭 The #OccupyJulorBiHouse hashtag is a play on Occupy and Jubilee House (Ghana's seat of government).
𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙞 is a Ga (language of the people of Accra, Ghana's capital) phrase meaning 'Child of a Thief', a loose reference to the ruling Executive, who the people believe have negligently driven the country into a mess.
📅 Today, Sept 21, is a public holiday in honour of Ghana's founder, Kwame Nkrumah and had been penned down by a civil rights group called Democracy Hub to protest high cost of living, rampant abuse of power, state capture, throttling press freedom and callous governance.
👮🏽♂️ Consistently, state Police have used the law to block the demonstration from happening. Yesterday (Wednesday) Police issued a statement claiming they had a court order to injunct the demonstration -- but they could not produce any such document. The statement also warned citizens not to turn up for the demonstration, as a result. This, also, was an illegal action.
Nonetheless, protestors have showed up this morning near the seat of government; the police have arrested more than 50 protestors.
🔈I am aware many of you follow me for specific (sporting) content, but I will be unable to provide such content if I am not comfortable, and cannot live a dignified life in Ghana, where I am based.
💡 Today's event is important in the context of recent uprisings in the West African and Sahelian region, for in every one of those cases, the tipping point was a result of consistent government/state attempts to play dumb to the cries of its people. A cursory reading of Ghana’s recent path suggests we are probably far from such headlines, but are systemically ticking the troublesome boxes that will get us there.
⚠️ Ghana is neighbours or, at most, a few doors away from every one of these boiling points. We are not immune to the factors that led them where they are. We cannot allow Ghana to get to that point.
And that is why we speak -- not disrupt the peace of fellow citizens, but to ensure the peace,, stability we enjoy is guaranteed for the next generation.
📸 @worldatlas
It’s interesting how the creative arts community is speaking up for the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protesters.
As I said earlier, the people are hungry and angry, allowing them to vent by protesting is the least we could do.
#ReadTheRoom
I’m actively seeking 2/3 potential brilliant masters students in African history whose research interests align with mine. They’ll be admitted into the History MA program @Portland_State in Fall 2024. As their primary advisor, they’ll work with me in my new project.
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