Gov’t clarifies cancellation of ‘The Convention 2024’

The Diaspora Affairs Directorate at the Office of the President has clarified why it prevented organizers of the pan-African event, The Convention, from going ahead with a programme at the Black Star Square.

The event scheduled for Sunday, January 7, 2024, in Accra, was cancelled at the 11th hour.

Among the speakers were Dr. Arikana from Zimbabwe, P.L.O Lumumba from Kenya, Julius Malema from South Africa, and Peter Obi from Nigeria.

However, reports indicate that the event faced an unexpected disruption, with special security forces and the military intervening, ultimately leading to its cancellation.

Organisers shared that National Security informed them that the allocated date of Sunday, January 7, 2024, had been designated for “security drills” at the Black Star Square.

However, a statement signed by the Deputy Director of the Diaspora Affairs Directorate at the Office of the President, Dr Nadia Adongo Fynn, said the cancellation was due to an “unforeseen” state event scheduled to take place at the venue.

“We write to revoke immediately the permission granted per our letter No.OP/PH/02, dated November 11 2023 which, approved your request to use the Black Star Square for the above event.

“This decision has been necessitated by an unforeseen State Event scheduled to take place at the venue. Under the circumstances, the amount of Ten Thousand Ghana cedis (GHc10,000.00) paid by your office for the use of the venue will be refunded. We regret any inconvenience this may cause,” the statement added.

Below is the full statement