The violent demonstration in Kenya may happen in Ghana, according to Dr. Daniel Odoom, a senior lecturer and dean of the Faculty of Integrated Communication Sciences at the University of Media, Arts, and Communication (UNIMAC).
Dr. Odoom emphasized that President William Ruto was under tremendous pressure from Kenyan youths and the broader public to fire all of his ministers and the attorney general, a choice he did not want to make.
On June 25, 2024, there was a demonstration against a tax bill that led to almost 22 fatalities.
President Ruto was compelled by this to rescind the divisive tax bill and assign Principal Secretaries to oversee the Ministries, with the exception of Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary.
According to Dr. Odoom, if young people in Ghana organize against decisions they disagree with, a situation close to this might occur.
Instead of discounting the events in Kenya, he underlined how crucial it is to draw lessons from them.
Dr. Odoom went on to say that high taxes during times of crisis might amplify public unrest, and he urged African leaders to refrain from taking such actions.
He stated:
“In Ghana, a similar scenario could unfold if African youth mobilize against their leaders to advocate for decisions that benefit them. In such a situation, it’s probable that the leaders would be unable to resist and would be compelled to listen,”
“Waiting until protests escalate and lives are lost before taking action should serve as a valuable lesson for our nation,”
“We should learn from what has happened in Kenya and avoid dismissing it as irrelevant,”
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