Amid the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests, a group of online activists took on the task of bolstering the call for action and the demands of the protesters by sharing government-backed data.
This data encompassed economic indicators, employment statistics, government intervention programs, and the expenditures of the executive branch of the government.
These activists used the official hashtag #OccupyJulorbiHouse to disseminate this information through retweets and shares.
However, one particular dataset triggered a significant and widespread reaction. This dataset originated from a 2020 list compiled by the scholarship secretariat.
The source of outrage was the inclusion of current Members of Parliament (MPs) and individuals with political affiliations who had received substantial sums of money through these scholarships.
Many individuals, seemingly encountering the GETFund Scholarships report by the Auditor-General for the first time, expressed vehement criticism toward the political elite for seemingly profiting from the hardships of the populace.
Among the MPs who faced renewed scrutiny were Sarah Adwoa Safo, the representative for Dome Kwabenya, who received $30,000 for attending a Harvard conference.
Similarly, Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh and Employment and Labour Relations Minister Ignatius Baffour-Awuah were also found to have received funds for various programs.
The reactions to this revelation were as follows:
“Whenever I see this list and notice certain names, I am filled with irrepressible rage. The niece of the Minister of Finance, who we were told was as rich as Mansa Musa, was given a scholarship designed for brilliant and needy Ghanaians,” an X user posted.