A high court in Ghana has issued a ban on protests in the capital, Accra, as youth-led demonstrations become increasingly common across Africa. The 7-day protest, named ‘The Gen-Z demo,’ was scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 6 at the Black Star Square.
Protest organisers had planned for two million people to march, demanding more decisive action from President Nana Akufo-Addo on corruption and living conditions. They also intended to protest delays in passing an anti-LGBTQ bill into law.
Court documents obtained by ModernGhana News indicate that the police had raised concerns that the planned demonstration could disrupt public order. In a ruling on Tuesday, High Court Judge Abena Serwaa approved the police’s request to prevent a number of organisations from holding the protests.
These planned demonstrations come amid ongoing election campaigns in Ghana and follow a series of protests across the African continent in recent weeks.
In Kenya, young people protested for six weeks against an unpopular bill that proposed increasing taxes. The protests, which turned violent, resulted in at least 50 deaths and numerous abductions. In response to the unrest, President William Ruto withdrew the bill and announced a cabinet reshuffle, bowing to pressure from demonstrators who remained in the streets despite calls for calm.
Last week, Ugandan youths also took to the streets, protesting alleged corruption and demanding the resignation of the speaker of parliament.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, protest organisers have announced demonstrations from August 1 to 10, although youths began marching three days earlier in some regions. President Bola Tinubu and other political leaders have repeatedly called for understanding and restraint amidst the growing unrest.
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