#DumsorMustStop vigil organizers hit back at ‘On-The-Run’ for denying them venue

sQuashie

May 9, 2015 10:00 AM

Lawyer for the celebrities, Kofi Bentil noted that the vigil will still come off as scheduled. We will meet at Tetteh Quarshie. People should come, he said

Organisers of the May 16 ‘Dumsor vigil” say the event will come off despite Total Ghana’s (owners of ‘On-The-Runs) refusal to allow them converge at its premises.

The #DumsorMustStop campaign, championed by three Ghanaian celebrities – Yvonne Nelson, Sarkodie and Lydia Forson – is to put pressure on the John Mahama-led administration to solve the erratic supply of electricity which has lingered on for close to three years.

It was originally expected to start from the University of Ghana stadium, but authorities of the institution distanced themselves from it saying, they were not aware of the event; neither were they in the process of granting permission to any persons seeking to hold any such procession.

Organisers then announced ‘On-The-Run’ also known as Bonjour on the Legon Presec road towards the old main gate of the University of Ghana as the new place of convergence. In less than 24 hours after the announcement, managers of the venue turned them away.

A statement by Olivier Van Parys, managing director of Total Petroleum Ghana Limited said, “Please note that our Company, Total Petroleum Ghana Limited, which is the owner of the said location, has not been contacted for any such programme and would therefore request the general public to disregard the announcements running on various media.”

But speaking to Dr. Cann on Happy FM’s Showbiz Xtra, lawyer for the celebrities, KofiBentil noted that the vigil will still come off as scheduled.

According to him, they spoke to managers of ‘On-The-Run’ who agreed that they use their premises. However, owners of Total Petroleum Ghana Limited are the ones who are opposing the suggestion.

“It is a franchise of Total. The owner of ‘On-The-Run’ said we should come and use the venue but Total says they won’t allow. It’s not a problem. We will not gather at the filling station. It is just a walk way. We will meet at Tetteh Quarshie. People should come. Wherever they will come from it’s not necessary. The most important thing is, we will host the vigil at Tetteh Quarshie”, he noted.

Asked why they did not inform authorities of University of Ghana about their intention to use their premises, the lawyer answered, “It was not necessary to inform them”.

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sQuashie