The Youth Wing of the People’s National Convention (PNC) has issued a stern warning that the country cannot afford to forgo its hard-won democracy and return to military or any other kind of undemocratic rule.

In a statement signed by its Acting National Youth Organizer, the PNC stated that as a country, Ghana must appreciate the relatively peaceful atmosphere it has and must not jeopardize it, especially in this current economic downturn.

The PNC Youth further stated that it is important to note that an act such as calling civilians to arm themselves in a demonstration will lead to an uncontrolled chaotic situation that will threaten the country’s democracy.

“We cannot afford to have another military or a paramilitary rule again as a country. The PNP government led by Dr. Hilla Liman (1979) – the party that gave birth to the PNC- would have served Ghana far better than what the so call revolutionary did. They worsen our plight and violated the human dignity of our people. Never again”.
PNC Youth

The PNC Youth recalled how a similar action in 1981 worsened the plight of Ghanaians when it toppled the Dr Hilla Limann government. The youth group of the party pledged support for the “collective principle” in fixing the country but not in the manner recently suggested by #FixTheCountry Movement.

“We therefore call on all Ghanaians especially, the youth to distance themselves from any gathering that will be inimical to our country’s onward match”.
PNC Youth

The statement issued by the Youth Wing of the People’s National Convention (PNC) followed a planned armed demonstration by the #FixTheCountry Movement on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

The plan by organizers to arm themselves during the protest march and a request to address the nation on the national broadcaster, GBC, received nationwide condemnation from well-meaning Ghanaians.

However, an Accra High Court restrained the organizers of the intended armed demonstration from hitting the street on the scheduled date and the organizers have since apologized for the move. However, prior to that, the Accra Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service rejected the request for permit.

Arms demonstration is unnecessary

Speaking on an Accra-based radio station, the deputy CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Akosua Manu (Kozie), described the decision by ‘Arise Ghana’ to demonstrate with arms as unnecessary.

“When I saw the armed part in the statement, I thought it was a joke. Their leader is someone who romanticize coups. On Bernard Mornah and his group, we know he’s been pretty consistent with his protests but it’s important to know the times we’re in. Less than two weeks ago, the national security was telling us about the threat of terrorism”.
Akosua Manu

Also commenting on the planned demonstration and the current economic challenges on the same program, Private legal practitioner, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, lamented the “lazy opposition” attitude of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its inability to demonstrate against the current economic hardship in Ghana.

“The NDC, as it is now, is a lazy opposition and our party leaders have to sit up. They have to deal with this government the way they ought to, and that’s massive demonstrations. If the NDC were in power and the economy is as it is now and things are not well, what will the NPP be doing? They’ll be on the streets every day!”
Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo

Nii Addo indicated that anybody who wants to go on the streets and draw the government’s attention to the fact that times are hard, “the person has my 100% support”.