In the name of the limited Freedom we enjoy, the Justice we seek as a people, the Probity, we need from the leadership, and the Accountability they promise fellow countrymen and women in line with the preamble of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana gives me the power to pen down my thoughts in honour of the General Fundamental Freedoms under Article 21.
As written in the same preamble that, all powers of Government spring from the Sovereign Will of the People of Ghana, I deem it more appropriate to encourage Ghanaians to actively participate in the upcoming Mother of Demonstration for the year to hold the leaders accountable.
The gathering of some Ghanaians in Accra on 3rd October as stated by the organizers of OccupyBoGdemo is in order sanctioned by Article 21 (1) (d), no two ways about this. The police are obliged to protect protestors and other properties of the State throughout the period for peaceful exercise.
Flowing from above, it is clearer that the introductory paragraphs of the supreme law of the land have given The Citizens of Ghana the right to assembly, move about freely, and demonstrate subject to the same Constitution and within any recognized Act of Parliament.
Article 21 (4) has even summarized the limited right when it says “Nothing in, or done under the authority of, a law shall be held to be inconsistent with, or in contravention of, this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision”, and other provisions under clauses 5 and 5 are duly noted.
The demonstration is one of the tools made possible by the Constitution when it comes to good governance in this country to express one’s feelings supported by Article 41 (b) that, can “uphold and defend this Constitution and the law”, in other words “to promote the prestige and good name of Ghana and respect the symbols of the nation”, under (a), to full put the Article 41 into good use, which stipulates that, “the exercise and enjoyment of rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of duties and obligations, and accordingly, it shall be the duty of every citizen”
Let’s go all out in numbers to support this good cause as our fundamental human right stated in Article 12 (1) to speak to powers for the implementation of the directive principles of the state policy in Article 34 (1)” for the establishment of “just and free society”.
Beyond the stated reasons for the much-awaited demonstration, let’s do well to “be citizens, not spectators”, in our own country for things not to decay.
Let’s demonstrate against general hardship in the Country which is causing an unprecedented mess to businesses and individuals.
Let’s demonstrate against the high cost of living and doing business in Ghana
Let’s demonstrate against the high cost of petroleum products.
Let’s demonstrate against high import duty at the port and co
Let’s demonstrate against feeble Cedi against other major currencies
Let’s demonstrate against the deplorable roads, no street lights, and malfunctioning traffic lights in major cities
Let’s demonstrate against poor sanitation and environmental pollution
Let’s demonstrate against high inflation rate, high policy rate, and other economic indicators
Let’s demonstrate to rescuer the suffering Ghanaians and jobless youth and,
Let’s demonstrate for the return of freedom and justice.
Written by Edzorna Francis Mensah a Journalist and Political Commentator