The Ku Me Preko organisers including President Akufo-Addo. INSET: Kweku Baako greeting the President
The ‘Kume Preko’ uprising by thousands of Ghanaians against the hardships under the then Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration on 11th April 1995 was recently remembered with a meeting at the residence of one of the architects of the mass protest.
The uprising which started as a peaceful protest degenerated into a violent engagement when state agents opened fire on the demonstrators, killing at least a demonstrator.
Then top politician Nana Akufo-Addo, who is now President of Ghana, journalists Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Jnr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr, politicans Charles Wereko-Brobbey, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, Victor Newman and Akoto Ampaw were among a host of others at the forefront of the march.
It ended on a sour note as a result of the fatalities, but the demonstration shook the Rawlings government to its foundation.
For a government which appeared invincible, the ‘Ku Me Preko’ translated ‘Kill Me Now!’ afforded Ghanaians a rare opportunity to say ‘no’ not only to the introduction of VAT, but also a demand for greater and sincere democracy in the true sense of the doctrine.
Kweku Baako Jnr, Kwesi Pratt, Jnr Nii Adjiri Blankson, Victor Newman and Akoto Ampaw were part of the team which met President Akufo-Addo at the private residence of Nii Adjiri Blankson, a Council of State member in Accra last Sunday
It presented them with a rare opportunity to relive the events of that fateful date in the annals of local politics.
By A.R. Gomda