SIMCEL ONLINE

1. Demonstrations aren’t illegal and they shouldn’t send shivers down the spine of anyone, particularly those in Government and the Police. They are part of the democratic mechanisms for expressing dissent, and this is good, as it avoids implosion.
2. The youth have shown maturity for embarking on such a peaceful and uneventful demonstration. I commend them and I believe society must begin to rethink the derogatory perceptions about them. This single act of comportment, by an age cohort usually described as rowdy, cannot go unnoticed. We have shown that we can be civil. This is highly commendable.
3. The Dampare-led Ghana Police, also deserves commendation for their sense of professionalism in handling the demonstrators. The man would have been crucified, if there had been Police brutalities. Therefore, if it’s been peaceful, he ought to be commended too.
4. The youth are now saying the NDC & NPP are the same and that they are tired of them. This sends a signal that they may gradually regroup to form a constituency. Once this happens, the political elites may either have to sit up or be kicked out. For, we may be heading back to the days where the youth were referred to as CONSCIENCE OF THE NATION. This would be good for our democracy.
5. I will urge them to be civil in their utterances and make full use of every platform of dialogue, provided by government, for the purposes of addressing the legitimate concerns they have expressed.
6. I urge the organizers not to allow politicians to hijack their activities and infiltrate their camp for their partisan agenda. The only way this grouping can maintain its credibility in shaping public policy, is for the organizers to stay politically neutral, and refrain from throwing our values of respect, to the dogs.
7. Once again, demonstrations aren’t a big deal. The mention of them, shouldn’t create any political pandemonium. The Police should hire the services of professional negotiators, to discuss proposals for demonstrations, in a manner that would ensure that they would be peaceful, rather than resorting to the very lazy approach of always rushing to court for restraining orders.

Well done, youth, well done, Dampare-Police, and well done, Ghana.

Yaw Gyampo
A31, Prabiw
PAV Ansah Street
Saltpond
&
Suro Nipa House
Kubease
Larteh Akuapim