Ghanaians in USA stage demo against Mahama at UN HQ

Ghanaians in the diaspora have staged a demonstration at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, demanding greater accountability, transparency and concrete action from the government on a range of governance, employment, environmental and development commitments.

The demonstration, organised under the theme “GHANA AYƐ MMƆBƆ”, brought together Ghanaians from different countries and members of the diaspora in the United States who gathered at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza near the UN Headquarters to draw international attention to issues they said required urgent action in Ghana.

The association, “Ghanaians Abroad,” describes itself as a group of concerned Ghanaians in the diaspora drawn from across political parties, movements and associations.

The protest was organised to demand measurable accountability for commitments made during the 2024 election campaign, with the organisers saying their objective was not simply to criticise the government but to obtain evidence of implementation, timelines for outstanding promises and measurable outcomes.

Placards bearing inscriptions

The demonstrators displayed placards bearing inscriptions including “Free the innocent nurse Salormey Awiti Bafoh now”; “Stop using NDC National Security to intimidate citizens”; “Arrest the galamsey NDC bigwigs destroying our resources”; “Free our citizens who criticised your government. Speech is not a crime”; “Where is the 24-hour economy you promised Ghanaian youth?”; and “Promise to restore automatic posting of newly qualified nurses was a scam,” among others.

Galamsey and environmental destruction

One of the central issues raised during the demonstration was the continued destruction of Ghana’s forests and water bodies through illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The protesters called for stronger and more measurable action to protect the country’s natural resources and demanded greater accountability over government commitments to combat illegal mining.

They questioned why President Mahama had yet to declare a state of emergency over illegal mining, a measure they said he had previously advocated under the previous administration.

The protesters also called for action against political and other influential figures they alleged were involved in illegal mining, with one of the placards demanding the arrest of what it described as “NDC bigwigs” destroying Ghana’s natural resources.

The organisers said the issue required concrete action rather than political rhetoric, given the continued concerns over the condition of Ghana’s forests and water bodies.

24-hour economy under scrutiny

The implementation of the proposed 24-hour economy was another major issue at the demonstration.

The protesters expressed disappointment over what they described as delays in fulfilling a campaign promise that had generated significant expectations, particularly among unemployed and underemployed young Ghanaians.

They questioned the absence of what they considered a clear implementation plan nearly two years into the administration and demanded greater clarity on how the policy was being translated into jobs and economic opportunities.

The demonstrators also questioned the termination of jobs created under the previous administration during the early weeks of President Mahama’s tenure.

They argued that a government that campaigned on job creation should be expanding employment opportunities rather than terminating existing jobs.

A placard displayed at the demonstration asked: “Where is the 24 hour economy you promised Ghanaian youth?”

Nurses and teachers’ employment

The protesters also placed the spotlight on a campaign commitment concerning the automatic posting or employment of newly qualified nurses and teachers.

They questioned the status of the promise and whether government had taken concrete steps to ensure that qualified professionals were absorbed into the public service.

A placard at the demonstration declared: “Promise to restore automatic posting of newly qualified nurses was a scam.”

The organisers said they wanted government to provide clear timelines and measurable outcomes rather than leave young professionals uncertain about their employment prospects.

Education commitments

The abolition of the double-track system in senior high schools was also among the commitments brought under scrutiny.

The demonstrators questioned the progress made towards ending the system and sought clarity on the measures being implemented to achieve that objective.

For the organisers, the broader concern was whether campaign promises relating to education were being translated into tangible changes for students, teachers and families.

Women’s Development Bank and Adwumawura

The demonstration also focused on economic empowerment initiatives, particularly the proposed Women’s Development Bank and government support for 10,000 businesses through the Adwumawura programme.

The organisers questioned the extent to which the Women’s Development Bank had been implemented and whether women-owned businesses were receiving the financing and support announced under the programme.

They similarly questioned the progress of the Adwumawura initiative and whether the stated target of supporting 10,000 businesses was being achieved.

They said the demand was for evidence of implementation and measurable results rather than campaign commitments remaining on paper.

Freedom of speech and treatment of citizens

Freedom of speech and the treatment of citizens critical of government also featured prominently in the demonstration.

The protesters raised concerns about what they described as the arrest, intimidation and inhumane treatment of social media commentators and other citizens.

They cited the reported arrests of several women across the country and questioned why some suspects were allegedly transported for hours to the Adenta Circuit Court despite passing other circuit courts along the way.

The demonstrators argued that such actions could create an atmosphere in which citizens were reluctant to express views critical of government.

They questioned what they described as a difference in treatment between members and ministers of the current governing party, who they said had openly criticised the previous administration, and citizens who now expressed dissenting views.

The protesters called for fairness and consistency in the application of the law.

They urged the government to ensure that members of its own party who commit similar offences are treated in the same manner as other citizens, arguing that the principle of equal justice should apply to all.

Placards displayed at the protest included demands to “free our citizens who criticised your government” and the assertion that “speech is not a crime.”

Another placard called for an end to what the demonstrators described as the use of National Security personnel to intimidate citizens.

Drug trafficking concerns

The demonstrators also raised concerns over reports of large quantities of illegal drugs, including cocaine, being trafficked from Ghana to other countries.

They questioned why such reports appeared to be emerging under the current administration and asked what had changed.

The protesters said Ghana’s international reputation, which they argued had been built and protected over the previous eight years, should not be compromised within a relatively short period.

They therefore called on the government to take decisive action to prevent Ghana from becoming associated with international drug trafficking and to protect the country’s reputation on the global stage.

From protest to sustained monitoring

Ahead of the demonstration, one of the organisers, Kwasi Obeng-Fosu, said the group intended to focus on freedom of speech, illegal mining, jobs, education, the 24-hour economy, support for women-owned businesses and concerns over the automatic posting of teachers and nurses.

He described the demonstration as a peaceful effort to demand accountability and transparency and said the organisers wanted the government to return to its promises and deliver measurable results.

The organisers had indicated that a petition would be presented to Ghanaian representatives in the United States following the demonstration.

They also said the New York protest was intended to mark the beginning of a broader accountability campaign rather than an isolated event.

According to the organisers, “Ghanaians Abroad” would continue monitoring the government’s response to the issues raised and document progress on outstanding commitments.

The demonstration therefore placed a broad range of governance and development issues—from illegal mining and employment to education, women’s economic empowerment, freedom of expression and drug trafficking—under the scrutiny of Ghana’s diaspora.

The organisers said their next step would be to follow up on the concerns raised, assess the government’s response and continue pressing for evidence of implementation, clear timelines and measurable outcomes on the commitments they highlighted.