Volta Backs NDC�s Demo

It appears the demands for the dismissal of the Volta Regional Minister Joseph Amenowode will not end anytime soon as the youth and people of the Volta Region seem to have been infuriated by the outcome of yesterday�s demonstration. Information reaching Daily Guide indicates that fervent preparations are being made across the Volta Region for a well-staged mammoth demonstration against the regional minister and some Municipal and District Chief Executives who have been described as incompetent. The sources noted that this time, any interruption by the police would not be tolerated, adding that if the police tried to infringe on their right to express their views, they would resist such acts with great force. Wednesday�s demonstration was scattered by the police who were allegedly influenced by the Volta Regional Minister to arrest some of the demonstrators who marched peacefully through the principal streets of Ho. The demonstrators were calling for the removal of the regional minister and the Ho MCE, Isaac Kodobisah. The sources, who pleaded anonymity, told DAILY GUIDE that they had received lots of calls from the region to stage a well-organised demonstration against the regional minister and some Municipal and District Chief Executives, either simultaneously across the various districts and municipalities or a mammoth one in Ho. They noted that either way, there would certainly be a �bigger, well-organised and mammoth� demonstration in a few days. The sources, who are die-hard card-bearing NDC members, noted that they had the backing of many branch and constituency executives as well as other citizens of the region. The programmes manager of Jubilee Radio at Keta, Edem Muta Nyasorgbor, stated that over 90 percent of callers into the morning show castigated the police for arresting the demonstrators. He said they praised Alhaji Bello and his comrades for a brave move and noted that what they did was for the good of the entire region because it reflected the views of the entire Volta Region. They called on party executives to resolve their differences with the group instead of letting the police arrest demonstrators. On Aflao-based Holy Fm, Israel Pentem, the morning show host, confirmed that over 80 percent of the callers condemned the act by the police, alleging that the security agents allowed themselves to be influenced by some self-seeking politicians. At Lorlornyo in Hohoe, Mr. Amenowode, who is also the MP for Hohoe-South, was castigated, with the demonstrators receiving a lot of praises. On GBC�s Volta Star Radio in Ho, listeners who called into programmes questioned why panellists were trying to justify the action of the police. A caller noted that gone were the days when Voltarians could not criticise the NDC no matter the situation. He noted that the demonstration had come at the right time challenging the perceived invincibility of the NDC in the Volta Region. The facebook page of Volta Premiere FM had a lot of comments concerning the demo, after the host of the morning show, Edem Yaw Torsah, invited text messages and comments. Some of comments were, �Are we in animal farm? Politicians are jxt treating the grassroots people with utter disrespect forgetting it was same people that enabled them to climb up. Their behaviour is sending us a signal that �All animals are equal but some are more important than the others� Time will tell�; �Volta has been taken 4 granted 4 too long , and its high time we stand up and be bold. Thump up to alhaji Bello and co. 4 their bold step�; and �it is time we let him go, for the saviour to come. The NDC Secretary should not forget that its only the demonstrators that are dissatisfied with the level of development. Have u all notice that work has stop at Stadium gate road and Mawuli estate roads. The way some activists are excommunicated, the same way some of us will withdraw our self from the party.� In a related development, Prosper Yao Tsikata, the secretary of Anlo Youth Council, another vibrant pressure group in the region, has lauded the move by the NDC Youth for Action and called on the youth and people in the region to take a cue from that and hold their leaders accountable.