Gov�t Worried Over Citizen Awareness � Budu Koomson

The former Chief Operations Officer of UT Group, Captain Rtd. Budu Koomson says government is unsettled by the awareness of Ghanaians about the state of the nation and government�s inability to solve the socio-economic challenges facing them. �We have invited ourselves to the table. If we will not be invited, we have invited ourselves to the table,� he remarked. The Concerned Ghanaians for Responsible Governance; the organizers of the �Occupy Flagstaff House� demonstration is continuing with its quest to get the government to make prudent decisions to alleviate the economic hardships facing Ghanaians. The group on Friday began a weekly campaign called �Red Friday; wear your voice� to pressurize government to address the concerns listed in the petition which was submitted to the Presidency during the �Occupy Flagstaff House� protest. Some Ghanaians wore red outfits in support of the �Red Friday; wear your voice� campaign. But some Ministers of state and supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) have criticized the organizers and participants in the �Red Friday� campaign for painting a gloomy picture about the state of affairs. Budu Koomson said the extreme polarization of the Ghanaian society is preventing government from paying attention to the demands of the group. He noted that a polarized society �doesn�t create a conducive environment for them [government] to even listen to what you are saying.� �It depends on which side you are standing. If you are on the right side, even if you talk nonsense, they say it is good material, but if you are on the wrong side and you talk sense, they will rubbish it,� he opined. Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI Ghana on his part said an assessment of comments on social media has revealed that citizens have viable solutions, which could help government move the nation forward. �People are thinking and giving solutions but they [government] are not listening. They are just talking back at us,� he said.