Ghana Court Bans ‘Gen-Z Demo’ Planned Protest in Accra

A high court in Ghana has banned protests in the capital, Accra, amid a rising tide of youth-led protests sweeping across West Africa.

The 7-day protest, tagged ‘The Gen-Z demo,’ was scheduled from July 31 to August 6 at the iconic Black Star Square.

Organisers had expected a record turnout of two million people to pressure President Nana Akufo-Addo to take firm action on corruption, living standards, and the long-awaited passage of an anti-LGBTQ bill into law.

However, the police objected to this because it would disturb public order, thus attracting legal intervention.

A High Court Judge, Abena Serwaa, presided over the case and granted the police their wish to block several organisations from holding the demonstrations on Tuesday.

According to court documents seen by ModernGhana News, the police showed concern over the possibility of a breach of public order.

This ban comes against the backdrop of an ongoing election campaign in Ghana and at a time when a spate of protests has hit the continent.

Recall in Kenya, a six-week-long protest by the country’s youth against an unpopular finance bill degenerated into violence, causing at least 50 deaths and many abductions.

It forced President William Ruto to withdraw the bill and announce a cabinet reshuffle in the face of pressure from protesters who refused to back down amid appeals for calm.

Similarly, youths in Uganda recently demonstrated on the streets over alleged corruption, demanding the resignation of the speaker of parliament.

The demonstrations in Uganda also put pressure on the growing discontent among the youths in different African countries.

In Nigeria, organisers of the #EndBadGovernannce protests scheduled from August 1 to 10 have unsettled the security agencies and the government. President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly urged understanding and restraint, as many other political leaders have done.

Also, the Ogun State High Court issued an order limiting the #EndBadGovernance protests to specific locations and times. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, mandated that the demonstrations be confined to four designated areas and can only take place between 8 am and 5 pm from August 1 to 10, 2024.

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