Ghana's success story built on gold, oil and cocoa is foundering | Chris Matthews

Soaring prices for electricity, water and fuel have triggered protests amid concern that politicians are mishandling Ghana's economic downturn

Dressed in the red and black clothing traditionally worn at funerals, waving anti-austerity placards and accompanied by drums and bellowing horns, thousands of Ghanaians descended on the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra in mid-January.

These workers marching through the capital and other cities were showing their dismay at recent price hikes and taxes, which have increased the cost of electricity by 59%, water by 67% and fuel by 28%.

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