The fate of the Gen-Z demonstration slated for July 30, 2024, is in jeopardy as the High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Maame Yanzuh, has granted an injunction preventing the 7-day protest from taking place. This decision follows an application filed by the police service, which raised concerns about public safety, arguing that the demonstration could jeopardize public order and disrupt essential services. The organizers, Positive Transparency and Accountability Movement-Ghana (PTAAM-GH), Arise Ghana, and the Alliance for Social Equality and Public Accountability (ASEPA) Ghana, had notified the police of their intention to stage the protest, expecting to mobilize over two million young people on the streets of Accra from July 31 to August 6, 2024. The protest aimed to highlight severe economic hardships primarily affecting the youth, oppose heavy government-imposed taxes, and express disgust at the corruption and nepotism characterizing the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.
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Following the court’s decision, Mensah Thompson, one of the conveners of the demonstration and Executive Director of ASEPA, questioned the basis for the police’s concerns and pledged to file another request for the protest. In an interview with Awisi Dede, Thompson insisted that they would persist until the police service complied, warning that preventing a lawful and peaceful demonstration could lead to spontaneous and uncontrolled protests, as seen in Kenya. “This afternoon, we shall file another notice with the police to begin another round of engagements to ensure that Gen-Zs in this country can demonstrate,” he stated, emphasizing the need for the police to respect the right to protest and address the grievances of the youth.
