Protesters in Ghana demand president Akufo-Addo ‘must go’ as inflation worsens

Hundreds of Ghanaians took to the streets of the capital Accra on Saturday (5 November) demanding the resignation of President Nana Akufo-Addo whom they blame the government’s poor handling of the ongoing economic crisis that has seen fuel and food costs spiral to record levels.
After once promising a “Ghana without aid,” last week Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to support his decision to seek a $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cope with record inflation of 37% and the collapse of its currency, the cedi. But the red-clad crowd shouted “IMF no” in reference to the government’s ongoing talks with the IMF for billions of dollars to prop up the economy. Most of the demonstrators wore red T-shirts bearing the slogan “You might as well kill me.“
Ghana, which produces gold, cocoa and oil, has also seen consumer inflation topped 37% in September and its cedi currency plummet by more than 40% 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. “For every cedi and dollar we borrow, the president’s family benefits through a data bank which advises and helps to sell the government security,“ says Lead Convener of the Kume Preko Reloaded movement which organized the protest, Martin Luther Kpebu. “So, we are here to tell the president that he should step down. Enough of the cronyism, enough of the nepotism, enough of the corruption.”