Akoma FM’s public forum attracted hundreds of Kumasi inhabitants, who trooped the grounds to witness and share their views on some pressing national and local issues.
The outdoor event was an outside broadcast (OB) version of Akoma FM’s current affairs and political show GhanAkoma.
The main aim of the programme was to draw radio closer to the people for comprehensive approach to discuss and find solutions to national issues.
Dubbed ‘Ghana’s IMF bailout: Kumasi’s perspective’, the public forum afforded traders and inhabitants within the central business district a platform to discuss, dissect and understand how Ghana has once again resorted to IMF for a bailout and its effect on their businesses and livelihoods.
One can describe GhanAkoma’s IMF bailout Public Forum as a crowd puller and educative.
Patrons who trooped to the forum in their numbers shared their ideas and took turns to ask the questions baffling them.
Identifiable groups such as Akoma FM Fan Club represented at the forum as were representatives from the Kejetia Market traders and other businesses who added color to the programme.
Resource persons who graced the public forum were Historian and Political Analyst Emmanuel Boamah, Ashanti Region NDC Deputy Communication Director Kwaku Asafo Agyei, former Ashanti Region NPP Communication Director Kwasi Kyei and Kwasi Addai Odike, the Founder and Leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP).
The icing on the cake was the resource persons’ diverse background that gave numerous and different perspectives to Ghana’s decision for IMF bailout.
Frustration with Ghana Card
Another issue that took center stage at the public forum held in Adum was complexities shrouding the Ghana Card registration and replacement processes.
Just opposite the venue of the public forum was a serpentine queue at the forecourt of the Lands Commission building, which is directly adjacent to Adum Post Office.
The over 300 people who had stood in the long queues for hours walked into the tent and poured out their frustration.
Speaking at the GhanAkoma public forum, some of the registrants said they had been to the office for at least six consecutive times.
One man who described himself as Mohamed lamented how “I live at Ejura. I have come all the way from Ejura to Kumasi just to replace my Ghana Card. Now they have asked me to go to Accra for my issues to be rectified and I need the Ghana Card to register my SIM card and the deadline is just ending of July.”
Mohamed’s issue is a representation of hundreds of people who looked frustrated as they wait in the queues for their turn to meet officials to attend to their issues.
One student who shared his experience said he had missed classes for the past six days so if he doesn’t get his Ghana Card fixed to register his SIM card, he would be tempted to borrow money on the SIM and dispose it afterwards.
Reaction
After some of the frustrated registrants shared their ordeals on the public forum, one gentleman also came through and described himself as Nana Yaw. The Regional Director of National Identification Authority walked to host of the show Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin, wanting to address some of the grievances poured out by the registrants.
He explained that “we are supposed to register at most 75 people per day. That’s how the machine is programmed but we in most cases register 150 and 130. Yesterday, we registered 150 the day before we did 130 so we are doing our best, we don’t really like it when they spend long hours in queues”.
The regional director further admonished the general public to use the appropriate channels to seek redress for their issues.
Charged atmosphere
The over 150 patrons who had trooped to share their views at the forum cheered at their favourite speakers when they took the microphone.
The cheering mood charged the atmosphere which in effect made the forum entertaining and educative.
Some patrons who spoke with the news team after the forum congratulated producers and organizers of the public forum.
They shared their understanding on Ghana’s IMF bailout decision, which until the forum, they had been very skeptical and had little information on the topic (IMF bailout).
Next stop?
As per popular request from listeners and other stakeholders, the hottest political, social and current affairs show will pitch camp at Suame magazine to interact with artisans, businesses and inhabitants within the enclave.
From Suame Magazine, your area may be the next stop of Akoma FM’s GhanAkoma Public Forum Train.
By Nana Asenso Mensah|Akoma FM|3news.com|Ghana