Presidential hopeful Nana Kwame Bedikao, popularly known as Cheddar, has sharply criticized recent protests nationwide, claiming political parties are orchestrating them for selfish gains in a statement captured in a video.
Cheddar hinted at the hidden forces behind protests like “Julorbi” and “FixTheCountry,” stating that they were masterminded by one of the duopolies ruling the political scene.
“Well, let me tell you something, all of these protests and demonstrations that have been organized in this country in the past year or two, they are organized by one of the duopolies. It is the same politician, and I said it.
“I am not going to mention names, but you know that Julorbi and FixTheCountry were fixed by one of the existing parties. We cannot do this to ourselves and destroy this country because of a politician, personal interest, or a party interest,” he declared passionately.
Cheddar urged Ghanaians to investigate the figures leading these demonstrations, cautioning that some of them may have ulterior motives beyond the fight against issues like galamsey (illegal mining).
“Please, Ghana, do your research. The people in front of all these demonstrations, some of them have treason charges. Ask, find out who is sponsoring them for the mobilization and all the things that happened. This is not about galamsey; this is about political interest.”
His comments come in the wake of a recent protest organized by Democracy Hub, which called for an end to illegal mining but resulted in several protesters being arrested.
Cheddar distanced himself from the violent tone of such demonstrations, emphasizing the need for peaceful and constructive approaches to national issues.
“Power is taken and not given, and if you want to take power, you should take it with wisdom and knowledge. After all, power comes out of knowledge. I want us to use our knowledge, for violence is not the right way for us to send a message,” he advised.
Addressing the youth directly, he appealed for patience as the country nears the election season, asking them to reject violence as a solution.
“I am appealing to you as youths of the country to be patient as we approach the election season. Let’s find an amicable way to deal with it. Instead of trying to mess it up, let’s build it together. That’s what I am here for. Violence, I don’t believe in it.”
The galamsey protesters, primarily from the Democracy Hub, faced significant challenges during their demonstration against illegal mining in Ghana.
The protest, part of the “Occupy Julorbi House” movement, was organized to call for an end to galamsey (illegal mining), which has severely impacted the environment and water bodies in the country.
However, during the protest, several protesters were arrested by the police, sparking public outcry and discussions about civil liberties in Ghana.
According to reports, the police cited issues of public order and security, claiming that the protesters did not have the necessary permission to gather, though many activists argued that their rights to protest were being infringed upon.
The protesters, which included youth activists, were advocating for immediate government action on the galamsey crisis, urging authorities to stop the environmental destruction it has caused.
Their detention led to calls for their release and reignited conversations about the balance between activism and state authority.
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