AriseGhana, a pressure group, says it will embark on a nationwide demonstration in Kumasi on August 22 to demand accountability from government amidst the current economic challenges, lead Convenor of the group, Mr Bernard Mornah, has said.

Before that, a public forum would also be held on July 20, at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall where experts would share ideas on the theme “Ghana’s current socio-economic position and the prospects of an IMF”.

He made the disclosure at a press conference in Accra where he discussed the fallout of the recently held “Krom Aye Shi” “Times are hard” demonstration, arrest of protestors and the way forward.

According to Mr Mornah, the demonstration to be held at Kumasi would demand among other things the reduction of fuel prices, repeal of the Electronic Transaction Levy, COVID-19 Levy, cancellation of the Agyapa Royalties deal and a bi-partisan enquiry into the COVID-19 expenditure

These demands, Mr Mornah said, would aid in the mitigation of the current economic challenges of the country.

Mr Mornah further called on the police to drop charges against 31 protestors who were arrested during the recent demonstration which was marred by violence.

Additionally, Mr Mornah said “Arise Ghana has secured legal representation for all the prosecuted innocent protestors as we are prepared to go the full haul to prove their innocence and to secure their personal freedom and liberty”.

Again, he noted that the leadership had visited and borne the cost of treatment of some 93 protesters who sustained varying forms of injuries adding that “we shall continue to visit other victims and support their treatment until they fully recover”.

For instance, he noted that the leadership of AriseGhana would explore all available medical remedies, both local and international for Mr Nii Ayi Mensah, a protestor who was hit with a rubber bullet in the right eye and had been declared blind by doctors at the Eye Centre of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital.

Mr Mornah denied the attack on police by protesters during the demonstration and therefore called on the police service to provide evidence.

BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY