The Presidency has been widely criticised for causing an 11th-hour cancellation of “The New Convention,” a public lecture organised by the leader of “The New Force,” Nana Kwame Bediako, aka Cheddar.
On January 7, 2024, the Diaspora Affairs Office wrote to Cheddar’s organisation, the New Africa Foundation, that it had immediately withdrawn permission it had granted the Foundation in November 2023 to organise their event at the Black Star Square, previously called Independence Square.
“We write to revoke immediately the permission granted per our letter head OP/PH/02 dated 11th November 2023, which approved your request to use the Black Star Square for the above event.”
“The decision has been necessitated by an unforeseen State Event scheduled to take place at the venue,” the letter read.
Reacting to the letter on the same day, the New Africa Foundation said it had to cancel the event, which, according to them, had brought together both invited guests and thousands of patrons from across the globe.
“We have just been informed of the cancellation of this event a couple of hours before its commencement.”
“This event came as a shock to us and a devastation to our dignitaries and special guests who flew in from and around the world.”
The organisers did not state, however, whether they would proceed with the event at a different venue.
Since the news of the venue disapproval and subsequent cancellation of the event, a large section of the public has criticised the government for the last-minute cancellation of the event, stating it is undemocratic and smacks of attempts to sabotage the efforts of “The New Force” movement.
Prominent speakers billed for the event included Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba from Kenya, Peter Obi from Nigeria, and Julius Malema from South Africa.
