Nana Kwame Bediako, renowned as Cheddar or Freedom Jacob Caesar, shared insights into the aftermath of the unexpected cancellation of The Convention event.
In a recent interview on The Point of View, hosted by Bernard Avle on Citi TV, Cheddar Cited God as the cause for the cancellation of the event contrary to what he thought would have been the outcome but counted it as a success
Despite expressing disappointment with the turn of events, Cheddar acknowledged that the incident has inadvertently propelled the New Force Movement into the spotlight, solidifying its influence in Ghana.
Originally slated for January 7, 2024, at the Black Star Square to coincide with Ghana’s Constitution Day, The Convention event faced an abrupt cancellation just hours before its scheduled commencement. The organizers, the New Africa Foundation, attributed the cancellation to a last-minute directive from the government, leaving speakers like Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, Julius Malema, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, and Peter Obi, along with thousands of attendees, disheartened at the Independence Square.
Responding to host Bernard Avle’s question about the cancellation potentially boosting publicity, Nana Kwame Bediako concurred. He emphasized that despite their initial discontent with the turn of events, the unexpected spotlight has undeniably heightened the visibility and influence of the New Force Movement.
Nana Kwame Bediako’s Comments in the Citi TV Interview
I think you are right. I was praying, and I fasted at the beginning of every year for one month. And I asked God to make the event successful. And when they cancelled it, I said God, I thought you said you would make it successful
The question God asked me was whether he thought I wanted a successful event. So I think the successful event has been based on the cancellation. It went to all parts of Africa, it woke people up, what was the reason, why did Ghanaians have to do that? They wanted to know if it was the UN or ECOWAS that had stepped in. Lots of people had different reasons. We still don’t know why the thing is trending around Africa.
We genuinely wanted to bring these people to open the mindset of the youth of Africa. I knew that I would still come in as the man in the mask but wanted people to know when they found out later about the contributions of the New Africa Foundation we bring into the system. This event was going to impact based on what they will say. It wasn’t the plan to unveil a New Force. It was because the entity, or whoever decided to cancel the event, needed an excuse. But even if it was so, would it have been wrong for me to unveil my movement? he asked.
I don’t think it’s just the cancellation that has helped me to achieve my aim. But the fact that they all agreed for us to do a press conference to explain ourselves actually sent the right message to the people, he further bemoaned.
The incident has sparked discussions about the intersection of government directives and public events, raising questions about the dynamics between civic initiatives and administrative decisions. The unintended consequences of the cancellation have, in a twist of fate, brought increased attention to the goals and ideals of the New Force Movement.
While the cancellation of The Convention event may have been a disappointment for organizers and attendees, it has inadvertently become a catalyst for heightened awareness and recognition of the New Force Movement’s presence and impact in Ghana.
