- 9/25/2023
#OccupyJulorbiHouse: 3-day protest over corruption, economic mismanagement & unemployment ends | The Big Stories
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NewsTranscript
00:00 I want to hear a story. Come down. Come down. Come down. Come down. Come down. Come down.
00:07 What's your name? Naseba. Naseba.
00:23 I am very angry. I am more angry at this morning. People are dying each day.
00:30 I am very angry. I am more angry at this morning. People are dying each day.
00:35 I am very angry. I am more angry at this morning.
00:43 I am very angry. I am more angry at this morning. People are dying each day.
00:53 The dialysis machine in Konebu got spilt. Do you know the number of people who died?
00:58 A 24 year old boy died this morning. His father is a teacher. His father is a teacher.
01:04 Gave over 30 years of his life to the service. Could not afford transplant. Could not afford dialysis.
01:10 400 cities a week. What do you mean? Do you know how much taxes they chuck out every day?
01:16 They cost of living. But you bring in flowers for your daughter's birthday.
01:20 You bring a cake to celebrate her 11th. God will judge the government.
01:29 Welcome back. We continue with that conversation on the demonstration.
01:33 Three day demonstration. And the lady you just saw there, you could feel her raw anger.
01:39 Losing her brother in our health system. I say it all the time and I'm unrepentant.
01:45 I'll say it on air. Don't fall sick in this country because if you do, I do everything possible not to fall ill.
01:52 Because Niafeme Niasse, what I've seen before, and these are the problems.
01:56 These are the things we want addressed in this country. You see, recently, a CDD fellow, medical doctor, I believe he's a pharmacist rather.
02:07 He made an important point. Look at, and I'm not mentioning this to stoke people in the wrong way or to to be insensitive,
02:16 but look at some of our prominent leaders who have passed in this country.
02:21 You can talk of PV or Bing and his asthma attack in a taxi or in some public.
02:27 And what happened? God rest his soul. Our former president, John Evans, at the mills.
02:32 And when he had his episode and going to hospital, vice president, Amy Arthur, among others.
02:39 The health system that we are failing to build, just pulling out one matter, the health system we are failing to build.
02:45 Some of our leaders now, and I'm not saying that is the case with the deceased, but some of our leaders now may think, oh, you know, we get to do our routine checks outside.
02:54 You go to the US, you go to the UK. You are OK. The day you have an emergency.
02:59 You may have to fall on the local systems, and that is where you see what people go through on a daily basis.
03:05 That that lady who was crying, losing her brother in that way. That's why she was furious.
03:10 The raw anger, if you like, righteous anger. Of people.
03:15 And that brings me into the studio, as I introduced to you.
03:20 Our guest is a member of Fix the Country Democracy Hub in the person of Benjamin Daco.
03:27 He is head of programs at Democracy Hub and a convener with Fix the Country.
03:32 Benjamin, thanks for joining. Thanks for having me. You bear my name. Yeah.
03:36 Or is it I who bear your name? Anyway. So, yes, we had a conversation yesterday, but today we are starting afresh.
03:44 Walk us through basically what what have been the major takeaways on the back of this three day endeavor.
03:52 And I've seen some people say you couldn't even submit a petition. You didn't have a petition.
03:57 Is that the case? No. You had a petition? Yes.
04:01 Basically, with all of our demonstrations, if we get to seven notice and then we tell the police where we want to go to and there's a blockade,
04:08 we tend to take our petitions away because then it didn't allow us to exercise our rights to the fullest.
04:14 So we also tend to say, OK, people are venting. This is what they have. They said it.
04:19 You decide not to allow us access to where you are. So you also hear us from where you are.
04:24 So these are demands. Just walk and go back home. We've done it at parliament before.
04:28 We do write our petitions, but we do not beg anyone that that is the main reason why we are going out there.
04:34 We think people coming out to speak is the biggest message to take away from this whole thing.
04:38 Not something that is written on documents. And these are not something new that we are bringing up.
04:43 These are legacy issues that has been plaguing this country for years and years now.
04:47 The health system, poor road networks, improper drainage system that we have in Accra.
04:52 The fact that our school system is failing us. The fact that we do not have enough jobs.
04:56 And the fact that the creatives amongst us who are educated with our taxes are fleeing in their droves out of this country.
05:04 These are the things that are plaguing us. And we are calling on the governments and those that we vote into power to fix them.
05:09 These are basically the things that we are asking for.
05:12 Now my biggest takeaway is that Ghanians actually showed for the first time that we can put aside all our differences,
05:19 political affiliations, blah blah, that we have. Things that divide us.
05:23 And speak as one people, seeking the better interest for our state. That is the biggest takeaway.
05:29 And it was very, very beautiful to see Ghanians come out and support.
05:32 We had people driving in food vans to come and feed protesters in the morning, afternoon and evening.
05:38 It's something that shows our solidarity that Nkrumah spoke about when he was talking about the Ghanian people to the international community.
05:46 And Nkrumah, the Osagefor was at your demonstration in a way because his granddaughter featured.
05:52 Yeah.
05:53 So in some way you could say there was a representation of the Osagefor himself. His bloodline featured.
05:58 Exactly. And we had his spirit also with us.
06:01 Let's let's let's talk about that presence you speak of, because we also had some known faces showing up.
06:09 Eeyore was there. Kwaukese was there. Stoneboy was there. We heard him speaking passionately among others.
06:14 Known figures, prominent figures, musicians among others showed up.
06:20 Was that was that quite a booster? And even as you reflect on that, how about the other side?
06:26 Sarko Die did not show up, but he was posting messages about people chasing clout.
06:32 He was posting parables also.
06:34 He was posting parables.
06:35 Yes. Sarko Die actually communicates a lot through his music.
06:40 During the past administration, we've heard songs from like Inflation, Damascus, that he used to criticise governments.
06:46 Now, these are things that we want to see from people that we call celebrities because they have that reach.
06:50 They have that following. People listen to them.
06:53 If something is happening in our country and then you are trying to communicate it to us and you use parables and proverbs, it doesn't go very well with us.
07:00 And yes, if you are chasing clout, Sarko Die, we are talking to you.
07:05 Next time we have a protest, please come and chase clout also.
07:07 We want to see you chasing clout over there because nobody is counting clout there.
07:11 Your presence is needed. Whether they come there to come in, maybe do something for photo op or something, we do not care.
07:17 We want to see you there showing that solidarity with your people.
07:21 Not that when it's time for election or something, you release a song to back the sitting government or to throw your weight behind them or to criticise someone.
07:28 We want you to speak passionately for us, the people.
07:31 Not to fall on the sides of the political divide and say, "Maybe I back this, maybe I back this and this person should twasso or not."
07:37 No, we don't want that.
07:38 It's interesting you bring in the "this person should twasso" because that was exactly what I was about to get to.
07:44 That song with Kwame Ujune, where Kwame Ujune says he didn't know that was.
07:47 So you want to fuel his presence the next time you have a demonstration.
07:53 He should come and chase the clout also.
07:55 But in terms of these people showing up, what did it mean? Was it a booster?
08:01 Yeah, it was.
08:02 I just wanted to address that.
08:04 It was a booster and also actually went as far as showing the reach that the message got to.
08:11 The fact that if you look at celebrities tweeting, we were able to break through the one million tweets barrier on Twitter.
08:18 We were trending not just in Ghana, I think number two in the UK, number two in the US, we were number one in Nigeria, number one in Ghana, number one in South Africa.
08:25 Basically, we took over Twitter.
08:27 It shows that that reach that we had.
08:29 Realtors and DW and all those, our big local medias were all on ground with us.
08:35 For the first time, I saw prominent journalists known within this country as part of protesters who were also trying to push across their concerns and things that bedeviled them on a day to day basis within this country, things that affect them on a day to day basis.
08:49 And if you glance through the protesters, these are not people who say that are on the low end of the economic chain.
08:57 These are people who are basically within the middle class range and maybe the upper lower class range.
09:03 So they are basically OK, they can live their day to day lives without struggling.
09:06 But they still are affected by the things that we were actually highlighting to the point that they were forced to come out of their homes and join us on the street.
09:13 So it was a win for us and it was a big booster for us about what we did on the three days that we had a demonstration.
09:19 Now, you look at the takeaways.
09:21 You couldn't present your petitions because you were prevented from getting to the Jubilee House.
09:26 But you've also indicated that you've hinted at the fact that you're going to have a series of such demonstrations.
09:33 Mammoth ones. Are you going to have these across the country?
09:36 What is the plan? What is the thinking?
09:38 So going into them currently, we know very well that the political class, let's say our leaders, have actually turned Ghana into a hub for diasporas to come every December to come and enjoy our country.
09:49 December to remember. Yes, we can't enjoy a dirty December.
09:53 So basically what we're trying to do is we're going to plan a series of protests within that December.
09:58 It will be more focused within the major towns in Ghana.
10:01 So talk of Kumasi, Accra, Takradi, Tema, Nkwu.
10:05 We're going to make sure that wherever there is going to be that big major concert, there is going to be a very huge demonstration happening in conjunction with that event itself.
10:15 To make sure that the foreigners are coming to our country, realize that Ghana is not that peaceful like they think.
10:20 Yes, we don't like violence and all that, but we are not at peace within us and we are struggling.
10:25 And it hurts us to see people come from somewhere else, come and enjoy our country and write all the good reviews about us and then they leave and then we go back to staying in our flats.
10:34 It's the cosmetic part. They come and see the Ghana that is Accra.
10:38 Exactly.
10:39 Some high rise buildings and all of that. And they think that is Ghana.
10:43 Yes, whilst we the people suffer in it.
10:45 So this time around, we're going to paint a very vivid picture to them when they come that this is a Ghana that we are in.
10:51 Not the one that they've been told that this is a Ghana that they should come and meet.
10:54 So that is where we are.
10:55 Right. There's this interesting comment that comes through from Nana Odiase Mpah Kwejo Obein who says,
11:00 "When will the media also tell the people to change their character and fix themselves?
11:05 I believe by so doing, we can all come together to fix the country together. Let's fix ourselves."
11:09 I don't know. I've fixed myself in multiple ways.
11:12 Nana Odiase Mpah, I hope you have fixed yourself as well in whichever ways that need fixing.
11:20 But how do you respond to comments like that?
11:23 From time to time we hear them whether political or not, people say we should fix ourselves before we fix the country.
11:30 I wonder whether our politicians, the president, the vice and others are fixing themselves too.
11:34 What's your take?
11:35 I do think we need to fix ourselves.
11:37 We need to fix ourselves by speaking on behalf of the country.
11:40 We need to fix ourselves by standing on the side of Ghana.
11:44 We need to fix ourselves and make sure that when we are speaking, it doesn't sound partisan.
11:48 It should always be Ghana-fist.
11:50 So that is the biggest fix yourself that I think I champion.
11:53 And the second thing is that there is this thing I've been saying.
11:55 The last time I was walking from, I think, Serco going towards Sankara, and I had a bottle with me.
12:02 I had to walk all the way from Serco to Sankara.
12:04 There was no single bean on the stretch.
12:07 If it's someone who doesn't have that patience, they might throw it away because that is an extra weight that the person needs to carry.
12:13 I had to put it in my bag.
12:14 I had to go all the way home before I was able to dispose that thing off.
12:17 So if you have a country where the system actually frustrates you, you know, as much as you try everything to fix yourself, you can't do it.
12:24 People pay money to register passports and file for passport applications, and it takes months and months upon months.
12:31 You need to go there and go and pay someone.
12:33 Something that needs to be more streamlined, you need to go and pay someone.
12:35 Some things will frustrate you to the point where no matter how good you are, you just realize that if you're going to have your peace of mind, you just go along with that.
12:44 It goes against the grain of your principle.
12:47 That's the system we have.
12:48 Exactly. I quite remember when I was going to do my bed set, it was the same thing.
12:51 I got there, the man said there's something called Express and blah, blah.
12:55 And I told him, "Look, I'm not leaving Ghana. I love my country.
12:57 It's going to take 10 years. I'll wait. Do your work."
13:00 Because if there are files waiting for you and you tell me there's Express, what if no one has actually filed for Express?
13:06 Are you going to say because you said three months, you're going to sit there and wait for three months for you to do your work?
13:09 So if you want to say there's Express, yes, fine.
13:12 People can come and pay for that. I'm not paying for it.
13:14 So these are things that we've deliberately created into the system where people find loopholes and need to eat from us.
13:20 And in that sense, I want to say fix yourself.
13:22 You can't do fix yourself throughout.
13:24 You get to a place where you want not to pay something.
13:27 And people will tell you that if you don't want to pay, look, I'll take you to this place.
13:30 Police arrest you. They want to take some money from you before they let you go.
13:33 They don't want to prosecute people who fall short of the law.
13:36 They'd rather take money and let them abscond from the law.
13:39 They run away from facing charges and all that.
13:41 And these are things that afflicts our country in the day-to-day business.
13:44 You've spoken about Dirty December.
13:48 And basically, some would say you're going to wash the dirty linen of our country in public.
13:55 You know, as we get ready to wrap the conversation.
13:59 All these foreigners are going to come, maybe even investors.
14:02 And you're going to be highlighting the very negative aspects of our national life.
14:07 How do you feel about that?
14:09 I think these are things that we can't conceal.
14:11 We've been concealing them for a long time now.
14:13 And Ghanaians have played way too nice with the sitting government and past governments and all that.
14:18 This time around, we've done too much concealing.
14:21 So we are exposing everything.
14:23 We do not want people to see this.
14:25 We've already stated that we have some micro-demands that we're asking for.
14:28 Things that are quite easy to achieve.
14:30 You can do them within these two months.
14:33 Do them. If we see them, we will rescind on our list.
14:36 What are those?
14:37 We've talked about the fact that our government is way too ballooned.
14:40 We have an economy that is under stress.
14:42 We've spoken about the BOG office that they are talking about.
14:45 We've spoken about the fact that our government is introducing way too many taxes.
14:49 We've spoken about the fact that something needs to be done about our inflation.
14:52 Our daily minimum wage is around 14 CD88.
14:56 Two tins of milk is 15 Ghana CD88.
14:58 We can't live in this country like that.
15:00 So these are the micro-things that we are demanding for.
15:02 The long-term things is the fact that we want a new constitution.
15:04 We've talked about the economic charter.
15:06 The fact that we want a more legally binding national defence plan.
15:10 These are long-term things that we are demanding for.
15:12 But within the short term, we are saying that we want to see some micro-changes that our government can do within these two months.
15:18 As soon as we see them, we might give them that doubt that, okay, they are going to work on these things for us.
15:25 And then afterwards, if we do not see anything when the new year beckons, then we might go on and organise something.
15:31 And one of the biggest things that will actually influence our decision is actually fixed on the budget that will be read in November.
15:37 So we're waiting to see what's going to be introduced in Parliament as a budget for this country for next year.
15:43 If it doesn't bode well with us, we are continuing with this.
15:45 And I don't think that it's safe to say that.
15:47 If something bad is happening in your room and you conceal it for a long time,
15:50 it will get to a point where the rot will actually come out on its own.
15:54 Ben, thank you for joining me once more in the studio on this very important matter.
16:00 Benjamin D'Arcle, or D'Arcle, is head of programme.
16:03 How do you pronounce yours?
16:05 D'Arcle.
16:06 D'Arcle, okay.
16:07 Benjamin D'Arcle, head of programmes at Democracy Hub and a convener of Fix the Country.
16:12 Well, we'll take a bit of a breather. We'll return with NSMQ action.
16:17 What can you expect this season? We'll be back.
16:20 [music]
16:22 [music]
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