Ghanaian businessman Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known by many as Cheddar or Freedom Jacob Caesar has unmasked himself as the face behind the New Force political movement.
Speaking after a planned public lecture event dubbed “The Convention,” which he had organised under the brand name, New Africa Foundation was cancelled at the 11th hour, the 43-year-old Nana Kwame Bediako said he had wanted to use another opportunity to unveil himself and talk about his policies and explain why he wants to lead a new force.
He said because he invited eminent persons like P.L.O. Lumumba from Kenya, Peter Obi from Nigeria, Julius Malema from South Africa and Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao from Zimbabwe for the January 7 event to speak on the topic, “Igniting the voices of Africa”, and it was cancelled following a denial of access to the Independence Square at the 11th hour, he decided to use the opportunity to unmask himself.
He said the circumstances surrounding the cancellation is what has made him to unmask himself prematurely and that, he would have wanted to unveil himself and talk about his policies at the right time, he told the press.
He said he was no one to be scared of.
Press conference after New Africa Foundation Convention cancellation
“I am nothing to be scared of. I came to you as your salvation. I don’t invest in myself alone. I am investing in you,” the man who will be turning 44 in February 2024 said and added he has a great vision for both Ghana and Africa.
“We need to educate. We need to uplift our children. We need to voice out to them. You are about to find out about this man in the mask because I never spoke a word, you were looking for me. I didn’t tell you whether I am into politics, whether I am an evangelist, whether I am a conventionist or a revolutionist. After this day, you will have to wait for me to share my policies and my visions with you.
“And if I’m the reason why the country or the government is not happy about these great voices coming to educate not only Ghana, but also Africa, then I take this moment to sacrifice myself, to unveil myself, because I have much respect for these great leaders beside me. I would have taken my own time to tell you that I am. But for this very moment, I am sacrificing myself to let you know that I’m that man.
“But I’m that man with a good purpose, with a great vision. I have a plan, and I have a vision for this nation. And not only this nation, I have it for Africa too. But I know Africa is the next biggest thing because out of all the continents that have been developed in this world, there is only one continent that is not developed and I am sent to do that,” he said.
Cancellation of New Force’s thought leaders Convention
Earlier, supporters of the New Force had thronged the Independence Square chanting patriotic songs as they demanded access to the venue for The Convention programme, which was bringing the thought leaders in Africa together to speak on key challenges confronting Africa’s development..
Meanwhile, a press statement issued by the New Africa Foundation on Sunday night (Jan 7), explained that “The Convention”, a Pan African event, which was to take place today at the Black Star Square in Accra, Ghana has “been cancelled by the Government.”
“We regret to inform you that the Government has cancelled the above Pan African Event which was to take place today at the Independence square in Accra, Ghana. All the special guests have arrived and thousands of people have come from all over Ghana as well as around the globe for this historic event.”
“We have just been informed of the cancellation of this event a couple of hours before its commencement. This event was approved by the government in November of 2023. This came as a shock to us and a devastation to our dignitaries and special guests who flew in from around the world.”
“We at the New Africa Foundation apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused to our audience and the public alike. Please be aware that this situation is and was beyond our control,” the statement said.
PLO Lumumba
Professor P.L.O. Lumumba said, “We came to Ghana to share a message of hope that Africa needs at this time and there is no better place to begin that message than Accra, Ghana.”
“It is in Accra that Osageyefo Kwame Nkrumah almost 67 years ago, spoke to the world and said the ‘Independence of Ghana is meaningless until it is linked with the independence of the African continent'”.
He said 67 years later, they were congregating in Accra in the very same place where the founding fathers of Ghana stood to make that statement but they were stopped bizarrely.
Professor P.L.O. Lumumba, however, said, “the message will be served” as the journey of hope “continues with the youth.”
He said he believes elements are conspiring to distract them from achieving their goal but it is not “an occasion of lamentation but for redoubling our efforts.”
He described the event in Accra as “serendipity” and added that “it heralds a great future for Africa.”
“Looking forward, a meeting such as this will happen not only here in Accra, but I am looking forward to it happening in Ouagadougou, Dakar, Nairobi and Johannesburg because this is about the African continent.”
“We are saying this at a time when we have promised ourselves that Africa is going to be more intimate in our interaction. This is why the African Continental Free Trade Area is headquartered in Accra.”
Revocation of Permit on request to use Black Star Square for the Black Star Line Festival
Meanwhile, a letter from the Office of the President has indicated that a permit issued to use the Black Star Square for the Black Star Line festival was what was revoked.
The letter dated January 7, 2024 stated:
RE: REQUEST TO USE BLACK STAR SQUARE FOR THE BLACK STAR LINE FESTIVAL
“We write to revoke immediately the permission granted per our letter No.OP/PH/02 dated 11th November 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 (GH¢10,000.00) paid by your office for the use of the venue will be refunded.
“We regret any inconvenience this may cause,” the letter signed by the Chief Director H.M. Wood for the Chief of Staff said.
– Graphic.com.gh
