The celebrities who organized the Dumsor vigil last Saturday say the mission for the protest was accomplished.
“The goals of the vigil were largely accomplished. It raised awareness about the negative impact of the crisis and showed citizens that the constitution of Ghana accords them the right to let their voices be heard, and empowers them to do so,” a statement from the celebrities said.
Some celebrities led by Yvonne Nelson, led over thousands of Ghanaians to protest what they describe as the worsening power crisis in the country.
According to them, one of the most important aims that the vigil sought to achieve was for Ghanaians not to accept the current power crisis as the “norm” stating that the objective “ultimately achieved.”
“For many of the celebrities and participants, the vigil was a personal, re-awakening of their civic consciousness, and they will be more engaged in civic affairs going forward.”
“For some people, it was the first time they had joined civic activity such as this, and it was empowering and encouraging for them to see that others were also tired of the current situation and they could unite in letting their sufferings be known. Thus, it cured some of the sense of helplessness or hopelessness they may feel, as a result of the economic downturn and the current energy crisis.”
According to the statement, some people outside of the Greater Accra Region have requested similar vigils in their regions, adding that “this shows the value of standing for a good cause and empowering others to feel their days of voicelessness are over.”
“Perhaps in the future, there may be more events that will empower people to speak up; more events that focus on civic education that teaches citizens about their rights and responsibilities in making Ghana “great and strong.” Perhaps the next initiative will not come from celebrities, but from other groups in society, who are also convinced that Ghana can be better, and it will take everyone’s effort to make it so,” the statement added.
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