Builsa South Member of Parliament, Dr Clement Apaak, has accused the government of misuse of state power in stopping the hosting of ‘The Convention’ by the New Africa Foundation at the Black Star Square in Accra.
In the view of the opposition lawmaker, the directive to cancel the programme is an indication of how Ghana’s democracy has retrogressed under this government
“Such misuse of state power by this failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia gov’t doesn’t augur well for our democracy and must be condemned. Doesn’t the 1992 Constitution guarantee freedom of speech and association? Ironically, today is Constitution Day. Our democracy has indeed retrogressed under this government,” he wrote on X.
However, the Presidency explained why the organizers of the pan-African event, were told to cancel it a few hours before the start on Sunday, January 7.
The Diaspora Affairs Directorate at the Office of the President said it was necessitated by an “unforeseen” state event scheduled to take place at the same venue.
In a press release, Dr Fynn stated, “We write to revoke immediately the permission granted per our letter No.OP/PH/02 dated November 11, 2024, which approved your request to use the Black Star Square for the above event.
“This decision has been necessitated by an unforeseen State Event scheduled to take place at the venue.”
Following the cancellation, the organizers said the government directed them to call off the event. They further described the directive to cancel it as shocking after claiming that the government had given them permission in November 2023.
“We regret to inform you that the Government has cancelled the above Pan African Event which was to take place today at the Independence Square in Accra, Ghana. All the special guests have arrived and thousands of people have come from all over Ghana as well as around the globe for this historic event. We have just been informed of the cancellation of this event a couple of hours before its commencement. This event was approved by the government in November 2023. This came as a shock to us and devastation to our dignitaries and special guests who flew in from around the world.
“We at the New Africa Foundation apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused to our audience and the public alike. Please be aware that this situation is and was beyond our control.”
The speakers who were billed to speak included Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, Julius Malema, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, and Peter Obi.