Booing is Caring: Mutombo Da Poet on the Global Citizen Festival and Ghana

The #GlobalCitizenFestival claims to be "the world's largest movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending extreme poverty NOW". The festival took place at Accra’s Black Star Square and New York’s Central Park. Climate change and renewable energy were key issues. During the Accra festival Nigerian activist and Global prize winner Yemi Adamolekun challenged the audience to occupy the "office of the citizen and pay attention to the people that represent you and how they represent you" and to "remind them" of their duty. Soon after, Ghana's President Nana Akudo-Addo walks on stage. We hear many in the audience shouting and boo-ing. Some clap their hands in unison while shouting “away”. A cacophony of noise drown out Ghana's president as he speaks of the need to eradicate climate change and poverty, and promote inclusiveness and equality. He announces the Africa Prosperity Fund and invites funding from global corporations as the background noise continues.

Ghanaians occupied the "office of the citizen" that night to express their dissatisfaction with their elected leader. This spontaneous response was an expression of unplanned activism at an event that celebrated activists on stage. When does booing become caring (about the country)? In this video I [Girish Daswani] have a conversation with spoken word artist and activist Mutombo Da Poet about his experience of the event and why he decided to boo the President. We speak about politics and activism in Ghana and are joined by satirical cartoonist and activist Bright Ackwerh who premiers his caricature of the booing event and adds his thoughts on Ghana.