Accra, Ghana – Ghanaian police have arrested 49 people in the capital, Accra, as they attempted to stage protests over the high cost of living in the West African nation.
The demonstrators, led by the Struggle for Change movement, planned to march through Accra’s principal streets to petition President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to address the deteriorating economic conditions at home.
However, shortly after the protesters began to assemble at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, a major roundabout in Accra, heavily armed police personnel blocked them from proceeding further.
“We have gathered here today to register our displeasure at the worsening living conditions in the country,” Efia Abaaba, one of the protesters, told Al Jazeera.
“Ghanaians are reeling under the burden of skyrocketing prices of goods and services,” Abaaba added.
She listed high fuel prices, irregular supply of electricity, and the rising cost of transportation as some of the issues affecting ordinary Ghanaians.
“When the government continues to ignore the plight of the people, it is incumbent upon us to make our voices heard,” she said.
Despite the police presence, some protesters managed to break through the security cordon and began marching towards the president’s residence.
The police gave chase, resulting in the arrests.
Several civil society organisations had expressed support for the protest, with some calling on Akufo-Addo’s government to engage the protesters rather than use force.
Ghana’s economy, once one of the fastest-growing in Africa, has faced significant challenges in recent years.
The country has been grappling with an energy crisis that has seen frequent power cuts, making it difficult for businesses to operate and for citizens to go about their daily lives.