The Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), Women’s Manifesto Coalition, Affirmative Action Bill Coalition and the Domestic Violence Coalition have issued a joint statement condemning the arrest of protesters at the just ended demonstration.
#OccupyJulorbiHouse was 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 aftermath of the protest, NETRIGHT, Women’s Manifesto Coalition, Affirmative Action Bill Coalition and the Domestic Violence Coalition described the incident as deeply worrying.
According to the four women groups, the peaceful demonstrators were prevented from marching to Jubilee House on each of the three days and that the Ghana Police Service maltreating many of them.
The groups have since called on the Ghana Police Service and all other justice institutions in the country to be guided by the rule of law in discharging their daily duties.
Read Also: IGP meets ‘#OccupyJulorbiHouse’ protestors today
Read Full statement below:
STATEMENT BY THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT IN GHANA ON THE GHANA POLICE SERVICE’S TREATMENT OF DEMONSTRATORS
Between 21st September 2023 and 23rd September 2023, a coalition of hundreds of primarily young Ghanaian citizens, led by members of Democracy Hub, attempted to embark on a peaceful demonstration to the seat of government to press home the call for, among other things, economic reform and an end to corruption in our dear country Ghana which has seen untold economic hardship in the last year. As a country celebrating thirty years of democratic rule, one would expect that citizens’ democratic rights to freedom of association, movement and expression would be respected. It is, therefore, deeply worrying that the peaceful demonstrators were prevented from marching to Jubilee House on each of the three days and that the Ghana Police Service maltreated many of them and arrested 49 people on the first day of the protests. Scenes from the site show needless abuse of individuals simply exercising their rights as citizens of a democratic nation.
As a civil society organisation committed to women’s rights, we are mindful of the impact of such abuse on families and the society at large and the fact that in these situations, women will bear the brunt of this burden. We are also deeply concerned that such actions by the Ghana Police Service curtail our democratic rights as citizens, drastically reduce the space for the legitimate expression of grievances and create conditions for civil unrest and the loss of confidence in our democracy which as a women’s rights organisation, we deeply value. We condemn in unequivocal terms the actions of the Ghana Police Service and express our displeasure with the statement from the Ghana Police Service issued on 23rd September 2023 that fails to apologise to the individuals they needlessly maltreated.
We call on the Ghana Police Service and all other justice institutions in the country to be guided by the rule of law in discharging their daily duties. We call on all citizens of the country to guard our thirty years of democratic governance jealously.
Issued this day 26th September 2023 in Accra by the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), Women’s Manifesto Coalition, Affirmative Action Bill Coalition and the Domestic Violence Coalition.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu
