The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has voiced his deep concerns about the ongoing #OccupyBoG protest, highlighting the challenges faced by his constituents in Bawku since President Akufo-Addo assumed office.
Speaking to happyghana.com during the demonstration, Ayariga stated, “If you ask me to go as far as my constituency, Bawku, then you’re calling for trouble because in my constituency now, even the voter registration exercise we could not complete due to the lack of peace.”
#OccupyBoGDemo:
— Happy 98.9 FM (@HAPPY989FM) October 3, 2023
Protesters chanting and expressing grievances#HappyGhana pic.twitter.com/xrlM7oMX47
Ayariga described the dire situation in Bawku, emphasizing the absence of peace and stability since President Akufo-Addo came to power.
He lamented the daily incidents of violence, shootings, and loss of lives among various ethnic groups, including the Mamprusi, Sisala, Hausas, Fulani, and others. “Everybody is being shot and killed. So if you ask me to go as far as Bawku then the country has awfully retrogressed,” he declared.
Kayaye join in #OccupyBoGDemo#HappyGhana pic.twitter.com/RGFp8jvZPJ
— Happy 98.9 FM (@HAPPY989FM) October 3, 2023
The MP for Bawku Central also criticized the apparent disparity in experiencing peace between the capital city, Accra, and other parts of the country. He expressed disappointment that while people in Accra and Kumasi could enjoy relative peace despite economic challenges, those in Bawku were denied the freedom to live in a peaceful environment.
Mahama Ayariga further accused President Akufo-Addo of neglecting and disappointing the people of Bawku and other marginalized areas, exacerbating the situation.
“Talk of peace that people in Accra and Kumasi even with all the poverty can still go and sleep in peace and wake up in hunger, we don’t have freedom to breathe air of peace. We’ve been left out, Akufo-Addo has neglected us and disappointed the people on all sides,” he said.
Notably, Ayariga had previously announced his intention to refer the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, and his deputies to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for investigation and possible prosecution.
The complaint, according to Ayariga, centers on alleged corruption and corruption-related offenses in connection with the award of a contract for the construction of the new Bank of Ghana head office building. In a letter dated October 2, the MP detailed his concerns and intentions to investigate the matter further.
