Lead convener for the popular #FixTheCountry movement and #occupyjulorbihouse Oliver Barker-Vormawor has disclosed his decision to stand down from the forefront of the movement after dedicating three years to the cause.
In a tweet, the convener revealed the sacrifice had to make which has taken a toll on his family, education, and finances among other things.
“For the past three years, I have given so much of my life and time to mobilize and support the efforts of #FixTheCountry and now #OccupyJulorbiHouse movements Within that period, I have had my passport seized; a travel ban placed on me; a treason trial; 5 arrests; jail time spent on three separate occasions. My PhD programme at Cambridge has been on hold. I was relieved of an adjunct teaching role. I don’t want to talk about cyber bullying; the surveillance of my home and communication devices. I have been separated from family; spent my life savings to support the movement financially and logistically,” he wrote.
According to him, his activities has sufficiently benefited the nation, and it is now time for him to move aside so that others can carry on.
“I believe that I have served my country all too well. Now I think it is time for others to step unto the plate and carry the people’s movement forward. #FixTheCountry needs new faces; new people and new energy. This is the time we usher in a proper transition, for the movement to renew itself. My hope immediately is that #FixTheCountry will be soon organized by a new group of people unconnected to us. This has to be the beginning of a transition phase.,” part of his post on X reads.
Barker-Vormawor rose to popularity after his arrest in February 2022 in connection with a Facebook post he made about a coup d’état in Ghana, which the government deemed treasonous, and he has since been facing trial for treason felony.
He has led several demonstrations in the country, taking the Akuffo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party government to task, the most recent being the massive #OccupyJulorbiHouse.
The protest saw thousands of the youth pouring onto the streets of Accra to express their frustrations at economic hardship, corruption and joblessness among other things.
Below is a tweet by Oliver Barker Vormawor.
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Story by: Cindy Selasi Humade | univers.ug.edu.gh
