The Chief Executive of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, praised the Ghana Police Service’s high professionalism in dealing with Democracy Hub demonstrators who were caught on video provoking the police, among other violations, during their demonstration.
According to him, the Dampare-led Police Service has improved the country’s image and democratic credentials.
Mr. Ofosu Nkansah told Pulse Ghana on Monday that the police demonstrated maturity, which is frequently associated with established democracies.
“We all saw that in the face of provocation, our Police remained calm and professional. This is a complete departure from the previous governments where citizens exercising their rights were assaulted by the Police. I commend the leadership of the Police Service and urge them to continue making Ghana proud among the committee of nations”.
On Sunday, 22nd September, violent demonstrators attacked officers of the Police Service at the 37 Intersection in Accra, leading to the arrest of 42 protesters, including some of the event’s conveners.
Footage from the scene shows protesters engaging in physical altercations with law enforcement officers, pushing down police barricades and attacking personnel who were attempting to prevent the demonstrators from gathering at the busy intersection.
On Saturday, 21st September, the first day of the three-day protest, demonstrators blocked the intersection in all directions using vehicles and stones, set fires, harassed other road users, and banged on vehicles. Some protesters even took to playing football in the middle of the road, adding to the disruption.
The Ghana Police Service had earlier issued a stern warning to the organisers, describing the demonstrators’ actions as “unGhanaian, uncivil, and unlawful.” The police statement highlighted the severe inconvenience caused to the public, including commuters being stuck in traffic for hours, people in need of medical care facing delays in reaching hospitals, and families struggling to deliver supplies to loved ones at medical facilities. Additionally, there were significant disruptions to cultural and social events, such as funerals, as well as commercial activities, with people missing flights and being unable to access their businesses.
In their assessment, the police concluded that the demonstrators had no intention of staging a peaceful protest and warned that they would not allow any gatherings at the 37 Intersection. Instead, they proposed seven alternative locations for the protest, pledging to provide security if the demonstrators complied. However, the police warned that if protesters insisted on blocking the 37 Intersection, officers would use all lawful means to ensure the free movement of traffic and prevent undue inconvenience to the public.
Despite these warnings, demonstrators converged at the 37 Intersection, leading to the violent confrontation. According to the police, protesters attempted to use unapproved routes, sparking the clash with law enforcement.
One of the event’s conveners, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, was seen in several video footages pushing down police barricades and removing the key from a police vehicle, which he later threw away. Although police attempted to arrest him, Barker-Vormawor fled the scene. He has now been declared wanted by the Police.
Meanwhile, Thirty-nine (39) members of the Democracy Hub have been remanded.
The charges against the protestors included conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to a breach of peace, assault on a public officer, and defacement of public property.
They are to reappear in court on October 8, 2024.
28 of the protestors have been remanded into police custody and pleaded not guilty, while the pleas of the 11 in prison custody are yet to be taken.