Accra, Ghana – In the early hours of Thursday, September 21, a group of demonstrators, gathered with the intention of protesting in front of the Jubilee House, the official residence of the Ghanaian government, were arrested within the vicinity of the Jubilee House and the 37 Military Hospital area.
The arrest followed the alleged blatant disregard of a court order served on the organizers of the Democracy Hub group, aimed at preventing them from staging a planned demonstration in the vicinity of the Jubilee House from Thursday, 21st to Saturday, 23rd September 2023, as stated in an official release by the Police.
In response to the arrest, the Police emphasized that they do not derive pleasure from barring any group from demonstrating and highlighted their track record of ensuring security during protests. The exception in this instance was attributed to a disagreement with the organizers regarding the venue, due to the Jubilee House’s status as a security zone.
The demonstrators, dressed in black and red attire, had planned to advocate for various reforms, including a reduction in the cost of living, an end to corruption, and enhanced governance.
The demonstrators, dressed in black and red attire, had planned to advocate for various reforms, including a reduction in the cost of living, an end to corruption, and enhanced governance.
Prior to the protest, the Police had announced obtaining a court injunction to halt the demonstration and subsequently warned against participation on September 21. However, the organizers contended that they had not received any court notice preventing them from proceeding with the protest, which led to their presence at the designated gathering point that morning.
Mr. Oliver Barker-Vormawor, one of the organizers, shared a video on his social media platforms while en route to the police station, expressing the group’s disappointment with the Police. Mr. Vormawor, who had previously been detained in a similar protest, called on lawyers across the nation to extend legal assistance to the detained protestors. He also appealed for solidarity from the public and the media.
The case is set to go before the court for decision on September 26, 2023. The controversy surrounding this arrest has sparked discussions on the rights of citizens to protest and the responsibilities of law enforcement agencies to uphold public order while respecting those rights.
