Actress and filmmaker Yvonne Nelson has formally notified Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare about a proposed Dumsor Must Stop demonstration scheduled for May 25.
Protestors are expected to arrive at the Revolution grounds at 8:00 am and leave at midnight.
This will be the second vigil that Ghanaians have called, masterminded by Yvonne Nelson in response to the erratic power supply (dumsor)
Yvonne has stated that she is prepared to spearhead the demonstration again, emphasizing the necessity to address the regular power outages prevailing under Nana Akufo Addo’s leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party.
See below for the full letter Yvonne Nelson wrote to the IGP:
We write with reference to section 1 of the Public Order Act (Act 491), which provides that any person who desires to hold any special event within the meaning of that act in any public place shall notify the police of his intention not less than 5 days before the date of the special event.
In this connection, kindly take note that;
a) The special event will be held on 25th May, 2024
b) To demonstrate our frustrations over the unacceptable erratic electricity supply (dumsor).
c) The special event will be in the nature of a vigil.d) We have carefully chosen the Revolution Square as the venue because of its historical significance and its proximity to the seat of government to give the president an ocular evidence of the debilitating effects of the erratic power supply (dumsor) on us, e) The Organizers anticipate that the people will assemble from 8:30am.
f) The crowd will disperse at 12 midnight.
Yvonne Nelson gathers momentum for dumsor must stop ‘reloaded’ demo
Last month, Yvonne Nelson took to X to encourage all Ghanaians to come together to ensure that the word is communicated just like the success of the maiden edition that occurred during the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama’s government.
Miss Nelson gave background information on the 2015 protest’s events and emphasized important figures who helped her successfully organize it, namely IMANI Ghana.
She said that some of these people are no longer willing to help her in this impending event because they are now members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
She posted:
April 30 2It is with a heavy heart and deep concern for the welfare of our dear nation that I address the resurgence of the power crisis, commonly known as Dumsor, in Ghana.
As a proud Ghanaian and advocate for positive change, I never anticipated the return of such a debilitating issue, let alone another prolonged duration.
Back in 2015, I, along with the support of Imani Ghana’s Kofi Bentil, Prince David Osei, D Black, Van Vicker, Efya, Sarkodie, Barima Sidney and DKB among others spearheaded the DumsorMustStop Campaign, aimed at holding our leaders accountable for the inadequate electricity supply plaguing our nation.
Together, we rallied for change and demanded action from the government of the time, despite facing significant challenges and opposition.
Fast forward to today, and it is disheartening to witness the return of Dumsor, casting a shadow over our progress and development as a nation. I never imagined that we would find ourselves in this situation once again, and the fact that it persists for another long period is truly alarming.
In light of these troubling developments, I have taken to social media to reach out to Imani Ghana, who supported the initial DumsorMustStop Campaign, to explore the possibility of organizing another vigil.
We must come together once again to demand accountability and action from our leaders.
I am aware that since the 2015 campaign, some individuals including Kofi Bentil who supported us on the legal front from Imani Ghana have now aligned themselves with the current government.
However, the fight against Dumsor transcends political affiliations, and we must unite as Ghanaians to address this pressing issue.
In Chapter 11 of my book, “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,” I detailed the events of the 2015 campaign, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes efforts and collaborations that were instrumental in its success.
Some of these included attaining a permit for the DumsorMustStop Vigil from the Ghana Police Service at the Police headquarters in Accra, Meeting with the Ga Wulomo to seek permission to hold the vigil on Ga land etc.
These were led by Imani Ghana’s Kofi Bentil who was the team’s legal representative.
It was a collective effort, and I want to reiterate that I cannot do this alone. I have reached out to key individuals from Imani Ghana, including Kofi Bentil and Franklin Cudjoe via WhatsApp text, but I am yet to receive a response regarding their interest in supporting another vigil.
Therefore, I am extending an open call to all Ghanaians, organizations, and legal professionals who are willing to join me in pushing for meaningful action to address the current power crisis. Together, we can make our voices heard and compel our leaders to prioritize the needs of the Ghanaian people.
I appeal to lawyers, volunteers, and concerned citizens to contribute their expertise and support in planning and executing this event because Yvonne Nelson can’t do it alone. Let us unite in our pursuit of a brighter and more prosperous future for our nation.