The Diaspora Affairs Directorate at the Office of the President has revealed that it prevented organizers of the pan-African event, The Convention 2024, from going ahead with the ceremony on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at the Black Star Square due to a state event at the same venue.
Organizers of the event, New Africa Foundation were directed to cancel the event at the last minute despite receiving approval in November 2023.
Several attendees who arrived at the Independence Square for The Convention programme were barred from entering due to armed military personnel and police officers stationed at the gate.
The Pan African event, The Convention 2024, was subsequently cancelled with only a few hours remaining on the schedule.
The ceremony was slated for Sunday, January 7, 2024, at Independence Square, to coincide with Ghana’s Constitution Day.
But the organisers in a statement revealed that the government directed them to call off the event a few hours before its commencement.
According to the New Africa Foundation, the event’s organisers, all of the speakers, including Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, Julius Malema, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, and Peter Obi, as well as thousands of patrons, had gathered at Independence Square for the event when they were requested to cancel it.
“We regret to inform you that the Government has cancelled the above Pan African Event which was to take place today at the Independence square in Accra, Ghana. All the special guests have arrived and thousands of people have come from all over Ghana as well as around the globe for this historic event. We have just been informed of the cancelation of this event a couple of hours before its commencement. This event was approved by the government in November of 2023. This came as a shock to us and a devastation to our dignitaries and special guests who flew in from around the world.
“We at the New Africa Foundation apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused to our audience and the public alike. Please be aware that this situation is and was beyond our control.”
In response, Deputy Director of the Diaspora Affairs Directorate at the Office of the President, Dr. Nadia Adongo Fynn 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 the use of the venue will be refunded. We regret any inconvenience this may cause,” Dr. Nadia Fynn added in the statement.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
