[A-List] Ghana: forwarded from Chris Black

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Anti War Protest Rocks Accra

Accra Mail (Accra)
NEWS
April 3, 2003
Posted to the web April 3, 2003

By Haruna Mohammed
Accra

Yesterday marked the 14th day of the war in Iraq and in Ghana's capital
city, Accra, protestors took to the streets for the first time to
demonstration against the war and demand an end to it.

The demonstration which was organized by the Anti-War Movement of Ghana, was
made up of religious organizations, student bodies, workers unions and other
civil society groups. The march started at 8am from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle
and went through some principal streets of the city and ended at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Some of the protestors bore placards with inscriptions that read "Death to
Bush", "No war for oil", "Liberate Palestine First", "Super power not for
bully", "Stop killing innocent people", "Leave Iraq alone", and many others.
A few of them also burned British and US flags and openly declared their
solidarity to Saddam Hussein and the people of Iraq.

Speaking to ADM, some of the protestors explained the reasons for taking
part in the march:. "The war cannot be justified in any way and we feel that
innocent lives are being lost for nothing." Another person said, "The
objective of the war is to forcibly seize the oil fields of Iraq by the US".
"The US is setting a bad precedent by starting a war against Iraq". "Whose
next after Saddam?"

Some of the protestors had their own plans and a large number of them
diverted their course from the approved route and headed towards the Osu
Castle. They were however stopped in front of the International Conference
Center when one of the giant gates on the road near the Osu Cemetery was
closed by personnel of the Ghana Police Service who had been detailed to
control the protestors. Obviously not happy with the actions of the police,
this group of protestors then decided to head towards the US Information
Service (USIS) and the British High Commission.

Mr. Akoto Ampaw, a prominent lawyer and leader of Jubilee 2000, was seen
around the State House, trying in vain to stop the protestors from marching
to the British High Commission. Another leader of the group, Mr. Tijani
Iddiris, said they did not intend to go the British High Commission area but
the crowd changed their course when the police closed the gate around the
Conference Center. "We've found ourselves because we are looking for a
diversion to the Ministries."

At the British High Commission, the crowd gathered in front of the building
yelling abuse against the US and Britain. The police managed to cordon the
area and prevented the highly outraged crowd from advancing towards the
building. A few protestors charged on the security personnel and attempted
to scale over the high fence of the High Commission and as the crowd grew
larger, more policemen were brought in for reinforcement. Some senior
officers including Superintendent S. S. Wudah, were present at the scene and
did their best to send the large number of people away without the usual use
of brute force.

Following the protest yesterday, security has been beefed up at the US and
Britain installations in Accra. Armed policemen and soldiers have been
stationed at their premises. An official of at the British High Commission
told ADM that it's a precautionary measure taken in case of any eventuality.

Meanwhile its been announced that Ghana will soon come out with a statement
on the American and British invasion of Iraq to protect and defend the
integrity of the nation. Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Outgoing Minister of
Foreign Affairs, said in Accra on yestersday.

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman said more than 5,000 letters of protest had been received
regarding the invasion. Responding to one particular letter, given to him by
Mr. Kyeretwie Opoku of the National Reform Party (NRP), Mr. Owusu-Agyeman
asserted that Ghana had no secret agreement with any country to wage war
against Iraq. The NRP letter, addressed to the President of Ghana, said: "We
of the 'Anti-War Campaign' protest at the ambivalent position of the
Government of Ghana in connection with the illegal war unleashed on the
Iraqi people by the United States of America and Great Britain."

The letter went on to say that an overwhelming number of people of the world
were opposed to the war as manifested in the numerous protest marches taking
place around the world.

It also stated that the war had no basis in legality and international
morality, and that its objective was to promote the parochial interests of
the America Oil Oligopoly (small number of suppliers that control a
commodity in the market place).

The author of the NRP letter reminded the government of the provisions of
the Constitution under Directive Principles of State Policy. These are to
promote and protect the interest of Ghana, seek the establishment of just
and equitable international and social order, and adhere to the principles
enshrined in the charter of the United Nations and the African Union.

The letters demanded complete closure of the military and intelligence
relations that Ghana currently has with the United States.