Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale, has reacted to calls from the youth to join the ongoing #FreeTheCitizens campaign.
The movement, which emerged after the arrest of Democracy Hub protesters, is aimed at supporting the demands that the arrested protesters be released.
This demonstration which took place from the 21st to the 23rd of September, 2024 was to put pressure on the government to address the devastating environmental and social consequences of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
In a series of tweets, Shatta Wale expressed frustration over the way his past efforts to raise awareness about national issues were received.
He criticized the youth for not supporting him during his own activism, claiming that they are being misled by individuals with selfish motives.
In a blunt response, the artiste made it clear that he does not wish to be a part of the ongoing movement, accusing the protesters of not taking their cause seriously.
At the same time, the youth have also called upon Ghanaian renowned Rapper, Sarkodie to lend his voice to the campaign because he is known for addressing societal issues in his music. A notable example was the release of ”Inflation” in 2014, where he criticized the state of Ghana’s economy.
Due to this, many believe that his track record of speaking out on such matters makes him an ideal figure to support the ongoing protests. He, on the other hand, has not given any response yet.
The #FreeTheCitizens campaign has gained momentum on social media with many accusing the Ghana Police of manhandling the protesters and the court for not being fair with how the state of the matter is at the moment.
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Story by: Joycelyn Glory | univers.ug.edu.gh
