Scores demonstrate against sale of Merchant Bank
Scores of Ghanaians have demonstrated against the government over the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz Private Equity Fund (Fortiz).
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Spotting red T-shirts and red armbands, the demonstrators carried placards, some of which read: “Wampah has let Ghanaians down”, “Vickileaks said it all”, “NDC government must go”, “We need a competent government now.”
Other placards read: “SSNIT, account for our deductions”, “Give us our Merchant Bank”, and “Our pensioners are dying of hunger.”
The demonstration was led by the Member of Parliament for Tema East, Titus Glover’ the Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper, Ken Kuranchie; a Policy Analyst of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Atik Mohommed and Isaac Otoo, a political activist.
Others were Sammy Awuku, aspiring Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and Ernest Owusu Bempah, Deputy Director of Communications of the National Democratic Party (NDP).
Procession
The demonstrators started from the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and went through the Adabraka to the National Theatre, before converging at the Hearts of Oak Park.
On reaching the Adabraka branch of Merchant Bank, the demonstrators delayed their procession for about 25 minutes, chanting slogans and dancing.
At the Accra Hearts of Oak Park, located off the Accra High Street, they were addressed by organisers of the protest.
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Addressing the demonstrators
In his address, Ken Kuranchie, alleged that the government and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) had not been transparent in the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz.
He told the demonstrators that there was the need for the government and all state institutions involved in the sale of Merchant Bank to publicly disclose the details of the transaction to Ghanaians.
Mr Kuranchie said the demonstration would be repeated in Kumasi, Tamale and Koforidua in the coming weeks.
Mr Atik Mohammed, in his address, claimed that the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz was not in the interest of the country, and further called for the reversal and termination of the transaction.
“We want to assure you that this is the beginning of the fight against corruption and wrongdoing in the government,” he added.
For his part, the Deputy Director of Communications of the NDP, Mr Ernest Owusu Bempah, alleged that the President contradicted his code of ethics when he personally got involved in Engineers and Planners’ indebtedness to the bank.
He called on the youth to demand accountability, and added that “we also have to demand social justice from the presidency.”
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Freeman Tettey told the media that the demonstration was peaceful, and added that the police deployed 150 policemen and women to ensure law and order.
Background
SSNIT sold its stake in Merchant Bank to Fortiz last year, a transaction which has raised concerns from a lot of civil society groups.