The Minority in Parliament has expressed outrage at the arrest of protesters participating in the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest.
The leader of the Caucus, Cassiel Ato Forson, described the arrest of the protestors as shocking and shameful.
He slammed the police for brutalising the protestors, insisting that the conduct of the office was barbaric and ruthless, especially when the participants were unarmed.
“It is shocking and unacceptable that in 2023 officers of the Ghana Police Service would resort to backward and archaic policing methods to counter peaceful protesters who were only manifesting their lawful and constitutionally-guaranteed right.
We condemn in no uncertain terms the police officers’ ruthless and barbaric crackdown on the unarmed peaceful protesters. For a police service that is badly and widely criticised for its partisan policing methods in recent years, and for which a parliamentary probe is currently ongoing, the 16th century style crackdown and terror unleashed by them on the peaceful protesters in Accra yesterday further dims the reputation of the Ghana Police Service. Even more shocking is the fact that the heinous and high-handedness of the police is inconsistent with its motto of Service with Integrity.”
He added “We hold the view that the right to freely protest and civil liberties are under a great threat from the Ghana Police Service which has decided to usurp the authority of the courts and act as law unto itself. The Minority further takes great exception to the new-found penchant of the Police to designate public places such as the premises of the Jubilee House and other state institutions as so-called “security zone”, when these very institutions hosted similar protests in times past. This is an obvious attempt by the Police to shield public officials from accountability and same shall be fiercely resisted.”
He went to state “Finally, we wish to remind the police and the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government that no amount of intimidation can stop the people of Ghana from holding the feet of appointees and duty bearers to the fire of accountability, and they must brace themselves for more civic action. We shall remain citizens and not spectators!”
Read the full statement below
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
