A group of Ghanaians living abroad on Wednesday staged a demonstration near the United Nations Headquarters in New York, calling for greater accountability, transparency and measurable progress on a number of governance and development commitments in Ghana.
The demonstration, organised under the theme “GHANA AYƐ MMƆBƆ,” brought together members of the group Ghanaians Abroad, an association that describes itself as comprising Ghanaians across political parties, movements and associations.
Participants gathered at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza near the UN Headquarters to draw international attention to issues they said required urgent action by the government.
Ahead of the demonstration, one of the organisers, Kwasi Obeng-Fosu, told Asaase Radio that the group would focus on issues including freedom of speech, illegal mining, employment, education, the 24-hour economy, support for women-owned businesses and automatic postings for newly qualified teachers and nurses.
Galamsey and environmental concerns
A major focus of the demonstration was illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and its impact on Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
The organisers called for stronger measures to protect the environment and greater accountability for commitments made to address illegal mining.
They also questioned why President John Dramani Mahama had not declared a state of emergency over illegal mining, noting that he had previously advocated such a measure while in opposition.
Campaign promises under scrutiny
The demonstrators also called for greater transparency over the implementation of campaign commitments, particularly the proposed 24-hour economy.
They expressed concern about what they described as delays in rolling out the policy and called for clear timelines and measurable targets.
The group also raised concerns about employment, including the termination of some jobs created under the previous administration. They questioned whether the government’s approach to employment was consistent with its campaign commitment to create more opportunities for young people.
Other issues raised included automatic employment or postings for newly qualified teachers and nurses, the proposed abolition of the double-track system in senior high schools, the Women’s Development Bank and the Adwumawura programme, which the organisers said was intended to support businesses.
The protesters called for information on the implementation of these programmes, including timelines, funding and measurable outcomes.
Concerns over freedom of expression
Freedom of speech was another major issue raised during the demonstration.
The organisers expressed concern about what they described as the arrest, intimidation and alleged mistreatment of social media commentators and other citizens over their views.
They cited reported arrests involving several women and questioned aspects of the handling of some cases, including the transportation of suspects to the Adenta Circuit Court.
The demonstrators argued that law enforcement should be applied consistently, regardless of political affiliation, and called for equal treatment under the law.
They also questioned what they described as a contrast between the treatment of government critics and the freedom previously enjoyed by members and supporters of the governing party when criticising the previous administration.
Cocaine trafficking concerns
The demonstrators also raised concerns about reports of large quantities of cocaine and other illegal drugs being trafficked from Ghana to foreign destinations.
They questioned what they described as a recent pattern of major drug interceptions linked to Ghana and called on the government to take decisive steps to prevent the country from becoming associated with international drug trafficking.
The organisers said protecting Ghana’s international reputation should be a priority and urged authorities to strengthen efforts to identify and dismantle networks involved in the illegal trade.
Petition and continued monitoring
The organisers said the demonstration was intended to form part of a broader accountability campaign rather than serve as a one-off protest.
They said a petition would be presented to Ghanaian representatives in the United States and that the group would continue monitoring the government’s response to the concerns raised.
According to Mr Obeng-Fosu, the demonstration was a peaceful effort to demand accountability and transparency and to encourage the government to provide evidence of progress on its campaign commitments.
The organisers said they would continue documenting developments and assessing the government’s response to the issues raised, with particular attention to employment, environmental protection, education, governance and other commitments they consider outstanding.
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