West News Wire: Hundreds of protestors have marched through Accra, the capital of Ghana, demanding that President Nana Akufo-Addo step down amid an economic crisis that has seen the price of food and petrol reach all-time highs.
The more than 1,000-strong throng screamed “Akufo-Addo must go” as they pushed past police in riot gear on Saturday.
In allusion to the government’s continuing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for billions of euros to support the economy, the red-clad throng also chanted “IMF no.”
After consumer inflation reached 37 percent in September, a 21-year high despite significant policy tightening, the president last week tried to reassure Ghanaians that the authorities would bring the country’s finances back on track.
“He has failed and we are asking him to resign. High fuel price increments are killing the people of Ghana,” said protester Rafael Williams.
The peaceful protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations this year over the soaring cost of living that has made it even harder for people to get by in a country where about a quarter of the population lives on less than $2.15 per day, according to the World Bank.
Ghana, which produces gold, cocoa and oil, has also seen its cedi currency plummet by more than 40 percent against the dollar this year, making it one of the worst-performing currencies in a region suffering from the fallout of a global economic slowdown.
“We are speaking to the IMF. They should not give them loans,” said tailor Francisca Wintima, who was among those protesting in the capital.
“Enough is enough. We have gold, we have oil, we have manganese, we have diamonds. We have everything we need in this country. The only thing that we need is leadership.”
