The ‘Fix the Country Movement’ is facing the first major crack on its front with the formation of a group called ‘Arise Ghana’.
Arise Ghana, whose membership comprises many of the known leaders of the Fix the Country Movement, has already hit the ground running with an attempt to organize a demonstration on June 21st. The group intends to mount a forty-eight hour vigil in front of the Jubilee House.
The formation of such groups is a special tactic of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which often creates such activist groups to agitate on its behalf whenever it is in opposition.
The cracks on the front of the Fix the Country Movement began about a week ago when their Convener, Oliver Barker-Vormerwor, unilaterally wrote a letter to the Ghana Police Service threatening an armed invasion of the premises of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on June 4, 2022, the anniversary of the military uprising that took place on June 4, 1979.
In that letter, Barker-Vormawor threatened that his purported demonstrators would be ‘armed’ and that they would be bringing ‘armed’ security men as escorts.
The letter received an immediate backlash from the Ghana Police Service and members of the public, particularly with the claim that they would demand airtime on GBC to address the nation.
Many people in Ghana have often expressed the belief that Barker-Vormawor is interested in overthrowing the 1992 Constitution. He often threatens coup d’etats on Facebook.
Barker-Vormawor’s faux pas immediately had some members of the Fix the Country Movement disassociating themselves from him amidst calls that all the leaders be arrested and put to court on charges of flouting public order,
The political mistake saw the purported intention to demonstrate on June 4 suffering a stillbirth, but out of the ashes has emerged a new group calling itself ‘Arise Ghana’. In the ranks of Arise Ghana are the likes of radio presenter Kwabena Bobie Ansah, Bernard Mornah, Mensah Thompson, and Listowel Nana Poku, all associated with the Fix the Country Movement.
Monday Meeting
On Monday June 6, 2022, the Leadership of ARISE GHANA GROUP, at the instance of IGP met with the leadership of the Police Administration over its intention to go on demonstration on June 21 demo.
Along similar radical methods adopted by the ailing ‘Fix the Country Movement, ‘Arise Ghana’ had evinced the intention to hold a 48-hour vigil in front of the Jubillee House, Ghana’s seat of government.
In the Monday June 6 meeting, the Police Administration was grateful to Arise Ghana for providing ample notice in respect of the impending demonstration.
The Police administration however raised reservations about the 48 hours overnight picketing at the frontage of the Jubilee house, citing various reasons ranging from the terrorism threat to inadequate personal and lack of logistics to provide security for over 5,000 people overnight.
The Leadership of Arise Ghana were however reported to have stood their grounds and insisted that they could not compromise on the 48hours demonstration and picketing in front of the Jubilee house.
The meeting allegedly hit deadlock without a compromise from both sides.
The meeting between the Police Leadership and the leadership of the Arise Ghana Group will therefore reconvene on Wednesday 8th June, 2022 at 10am.
Representing the Police was COP Tetteh Yohuno, COP Ken Yeboah, COP Awuni, COP Habiba, and COP Suraj.
Representing Arise Ghana was Kwabena Bobie Ansah, Kobby Barlon, Bernard Mornah, Rex Omar, Mensah Thompson, Listowel Nana Poku, Mordecai Thiombiano, Nana Ntow Amirekyi, Dramani Selorm Dzramado and Abdul Rahman Zakari.
The details of the Monday meeting were released to the press by Mensah Thompson,
Executive Director, ASEPA and Leading Member, Arise Ghana.
