Yvonne Nelson, a popular Ghanaian actress, model, and producer, has revealed some interesting details about her conversations with former President John Mahama and current President Nana Akufo-Addo before she led the famous #dumosormuststop protest in 2015.
In her new book titled ‘I am not Yvonne Nelson’, she gives an insight into their different attitudes and responses to her campaign against the power crisis in Ghana.
She writes that President Akufo-Addo, who was then the opposition leader, called her personally to express his support and admiration. He praised her for her courage and patriotism, and told her that she had the backing of the whole nation. He urged her to keep up the fight and not be discouraged by any challenges.
“He said I was a true daughter of the land and that what I was doing was a good thing. He said I should push on and not be discouraged, for the whole of Ghana was behind me,” she quotes him as saying.
On the other hand, she says that President Mahama, who was then in power, wanted to meet her privately, but she refused. She insisted that she would only meet him if her fellow organizers of the protest were also present. She says that despite pressure from the presidency, she did not agree to a one-on-one meeting with him.
“I stood my ground, stating that if the president was not prepared to meet me with my colleagues, then the meeting was not going to happen,” she writes.
She also reflects on the political implications of her protest, which drew attention to the issue of frequent power outages in Ghana.
She says that while the government was unhappy with her protest, the opposition parties were solidly behind her. However, she emphasizes that her agenda was nonpartisan and that she was only concerned about the welfare of Ghanaians.
The #dumosormuststop protest was a peaceful vigil that attracted thousands of people, including celebrities, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens. It put pressure on the government to address the energy crisis and improve the living conditions of Ghanaians.
Yvonne Nelson’s activism and passion for social change endeared her to many people and made her a voice of the masses.
About the book
‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’ is a captivating and candid account of a young woman who sets out to discover herself but finds out that she has been living with a false identity.
The book is full of drama and surprises that could make a thrilling movie script, except that the protagonist, who is an actor herself, is dealing with a reality that often makes her cry.
The author does not hold back anything in this autobiography. She opens up about her life and exposes the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of herself and the world of celebrities.
The book launch was attended by many industry players, businessmen, and politicians, such as John Dumelo, Adjetey Anang, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and Becca. Some media personalities, such as Manasseh Azure Awuni and Sammy Forson were also present.
