Friday, July 04, 2014

Occupy Flagstaff House Demonstrators Were NPP - Nii Lantey
Members of Occupy Flagstaff House in Accra, Ghana.


Member of Parliament for Ododiodioo Nii Lantey Vanderpuye says the protestors of the Occupy Flagstaff demonstration were nothing more than camouflaged middle class New Patriotic Party members who paraded as non-partisan demonstrators.
The former Deputy Trade Minister claimed he saw some of the protestors who were known members of the friends of Nana Akufo-Addo, a group supporting the candidature of twice failed presidential candidate of the NPP.

Hundreds of protestors defied the rainstorm to protest what they claim is the harsh living conditions in the country worsened by an incompetent government.

In what appeared a significant shift from the norm- political parties and allied groups organising demonstrations- Tuesday's demonstration saw some influential members of the society who have been described as apolitical.

The demonstrators included George Andah, Ace Ankomah, Comfort Ocran, Ken Ofori Atta, Dr Esi Ansah and Kinna Likimani etc.

The demonstrators tagged themselves as middle class protestors who could no longer take the crass incompetence being exhibited by the Mahama led government.

They presented a petition to the Deputy Chief of Staff Valerie Sawyer outlining a number of demands including the provision of power, water, fuel and accountable leadership which they wanted the government to address.

A day after the demonstration the Ododiodioo MP is convinced the NPP engineered the demonstration.

Even though aspiring NPP presidential candidate Stephen Asamoah Boateng was heckled and sacked by the demonstrators with shouts of "no politician here" Nii Lante Vanderpuye maintained in an interview with Joy News' Evans Mensah the "leadership of the demo are people who have links with the NPP."

He mentioned NPP National Organiser John Boadu as one of the demonstrators, a testimony to the fact NPP members were part of the demonstration.

He said John Mahama who has shown to be a listening president is already addressing some of the challenges raised by the demonstrators.

Kofi Bentil a key participant of the demonstration said he was not surprised by the comment of the Deputy Minister because "nobody takes Nii Lantey Vanderpuye serious anymore."

He said politicians have adopted a strategy of painting people whose argument appear persuasive with a political brush in order to neutralise such persons.

He explained that the demonstration was opened to everybody irrespective of political affiliation but everybody conformed to strictly non-partisan demonstration.

Kofi Bentil explained that "Asa B had an agenda which was partisan" a reason why he was shown the exit.

He warned government to listen to the concerns of the group or they will be back.

Ghana Web

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