The Diaspora Affairs Directorate at the Office of the President has explained why it stopped organizers of the pan-African event, The Convention 2024, from proceeding today, Sunday, January 7, 2024, at the Independence Square.
Organizers of the program, New Africa Foundation, slammed the government for causing the event to be called off a few hours even though it had been approved in November 2023.
Speakers for the event included Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, Peter Obi Julius Malema, and Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao had arrived in Ghana days ahead of the event.
Tension was rising at the Black Star Square Sunday evening as military and police personnel blocked access to some persons who had thronged the venue to attend the event.
But the Deputy Director of the Diaspora Affairs Directorate at the Office of the President, Dr. Nadia Adongo Fynn, in a statement, said the decision was because of an “unforeseen” state event scheduled to take place at the venue.
“We write to revoke immediately the permission granted per our letter No.OP/PH/02 dated 11th November 2023 which approved your request to use the Black Star Square for the above event.
“This decision has been necessitated by an unforeseen State Event scheduled to take place at the venue. Under the circumstances, the amount of Ten Thousand Ghana cedis (GHc10,000.00) paid by your office for using the venue will be refunded. We regret any inconvenience this may cause,” Dr. Nadia Fynn added.
