The Ghana Police Service has taken legal action to halt the upcoming Gen-Z demonstration, seeking a court injunction to prevent a seven-day protest from proceeding. Scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 6, 2024, the demonstration aims to mobilize over 2 million young people in Accra to raise awareness about the severe economic challenges facing the youth.
The protesters seek to highlight the devastating impact of these hardships, which have led to increased drug addiction, perilous migrations, and even recruitment into terrorist groups. The police injunction threatens to derail the plans, sparking uncertainty about the future of the demonstration. Additionally, the protesters plan to voice their opposition to the government’s stringent tax measures, including the contentious betting tax, COVID-19 tax, sanitation tax, and the recent hike in internet data taxes.
These levies have sparked widespread discontent among the youth, who feel disproportionately burdened by the increased financial strain. By highlighting these issues, the protesters seek to hold the government accountable for its tax policies and their impact on the younger generation.
However, the fate of the protest hangs in the balance as the court prepares to hear the police’s injunction application on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, which could potentially halt the demonstration.