, George Akuffo Dampare, is set to meet protestors of the ‘#OccupyJulorbiHouse’ today 23rd September 2023.){kind=link}
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo Dampare, is set to meet protestors of the ‘#OccupyJulorbiHouse’ today 23rd September 2023.
This comes after a demonstration, #OccupyJulorbiHouse, organized by a group called the Democracy Hub to draw attention to the economic hardship faced by Ghanaians resulted into confusion as some of the leading protesters were allegedly arrested by the Ghana Police Service.
The police picked up the protesters at the 37 bus terminal, where they were assembling for the demonstration Thursday morning.
Citing reasons for the arrest, the Police indicated that an application stopping the demonstration had been filed and served Atuguba & Associates, lawyers of organisers Democracy Hub, on Tuesday, September 19.
Reacting to the development in a statement, the Ghana Police Service has presented what they call “Facts” of the issue indicating that the actions of the Police were in line with the law.
The “fact sheet” indicated that the demonstrators who showed up within the vicinity of the Jubilee House and around their starting point at 37 were arrested for unlawful assembly and breach of the Public Order Act.
It added that in the course of the arrest, nobody was manhandled or beaten. In the night of same day, 21st September 2023, all those arrested were released to go and none was kept in Police cells.
The Police Service has also added that the IGP has personally intervened and he is meeting Organizers today 22nd September 2023, at 10:00 am.
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Read full details of Fact sheet below:
1. On 4th September, 2023 the Police received Notice to demonstrate from the Democracy Hun group.
2. The Notice is to the effect that the group will embark on demonstration at the Jubilee House from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd September, 2023.
3. Upon receipt of the Notice to demonstrate, the Police engaged and discussed some modalities and security concerns with the Organisers.
4. During the said engagement, Police informed the Organisers that the Jubilee House among other places are security installations/facilities.
5. Therefore, demonstrating in or around the Jubilee House may endanger public defence, public order, public safety among others.
6. Police in the interest of public order, public safety among others requested the Organisers to relocate the demonstration.
7. The Organizers refused the request by the Police to relocate venue for the demonstration and insisted on their selected venue.
7. Considering the ensued disagreement, the Police on 19th September, 2023 filed an application to prohibit the Organisers from holding the planned demonstration at the Jubilee House from 21st September, 2023.
8. The application which is slated for determination on 26th September, 2023, was successfully served on the lawyers of the Organisers ie: Atuguba & Associate.
9. The service of the process on the lawyers was elected and dictated by the Organisers in their notification letter to the Police dated 4th September, 2023.
10. The process was served by a court bailiff and there is a proof of service on the court file and the Police can only get copy of the proof of service upon application.
11. The Police after the service informed the public on the pendency of the application before the Court and as such disregard any invitation by the Organisers to partake in any unlawful demonstration.
12. On Thursday 21st September 2023, some of the demonstrators showed up to undertake the demonstration supposed not to be held due to the pendency of the application before the court.
13. Subsequently, the demonstrators who showed up within the vicinity of the Jubilee House and around their starting point at 37 were arrested for unlawful assembly and breach of the Public Order Act.
14. In the course of the arrest, nobody was manhandled or beaten. In the night of same day, 21st September 2023, all those arrested were released to go and none was kept in Police cells.
15. The actions of the Police were in line with the law and
16. The IGP has personally intervened and he is meeting Organizers today 22nd September 2023, at 10:00 am.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu