Security Analyst Adib Saani has cautioned Ghana against adopting the violent Kenya youth protest that has resulted in several deaths.
Kenyan President William Ruto has been compelled to withdraw the finance bill seeking to impose some levies following mass violent protests which has claimed at least 23 lives.
Five Ghanaian MPs who were on a study tour of the parliament of the East African country were caught up in the insurrection.
Commenting on calls for similar protests in Ghana on Starr Today with Joshua Kodjo Mensah, Adib Saani insisted that such protests are not necessary even though the situation is similar.
“The issues are cross-cutting. Kenya has issues with corruption which is very similar to what we have here in Ghana. High indebtedness which is very similar, taxation on sanitary pads, bread, and essential commodities, which is similar to what we have in Ghana.”
“The government of Kenya is using COVID-19 as an excuse which is similar to what we have in Ghana so the similarities are there but I don’t think we should encourage the Kenya-like protest in Ghana. Because in Kenya people died. We wouldn’t want people to die.”
“Parliament was beseeched and sections of it burnt and we would not want that to happen in Ghana. So for anyone to say the youth must come out and speak out, it’s okay but for a Kenya-like protest is what I beg to differ”, he added.
But, Governance Analyst, Dr. Frederick Oduro believes the youth in Kenya need to be commended for their resilience against misgovernance.
Meanwhile, two female MPs from the minority side of Ghana’s legislature fear the invasion of the parliament of Kenya by rioting youth could happen in Ghana.
Member of Parliament for Salaga South Hajia Zuweira Ibrahimah who serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee described the riot as unsurprising given her encounter with some young Kenyans prior to the election of Ruto.
According to her, Ghana’s parliament due to excessive partisanship has failed to attend to the needs of the citizens and thus has opened itself to a similar attack, especially following the military invasion into the chamber
Member of Parliament for Ketu South Abla Dzifa Gomashie charged the Nana Addo administration to pay heed to the concerns of citizens and shun what she describes as pomposity and arrogance of power.
The former deputy minister for Creative Arts also questioned why the invasion of the chamber of parliament by the military has not been addressed to date disclosing the development leaves her in constant fear whenever she shows up in the chamber.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Benjamin Sackey
