Civil society groups have praised Ghana Police Service for the professional manner it handled the weekend demonstrations organised by Democracy Hub, a pressure group in Accra, against illegal mining in the country.
The 3-day demonstration, which ended on Monday, September 23, 2024 witnessed acts of lawlessness and public disorder, resulting in the arrest of over 40 protesters, including the leader, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who removed the key to one of the police vehicles and threw it away.
The protest took place at the 37 roundabout and witnessed moments of standoffs between the demonstrators and the police. Beyond what was observed on the grounds, the two bodies issued various statements to tell their side of the story as it unfolded.
LOCATION
The Ghana Police Service on September 19, 2024 issued a statement that on July 9, 2024 it received notice from the Democracy Hub of their planned protest by way of picketing from September 21 to 23, 2024 at the Revolution Square, in front of the Jubilee House.
According to the statement, the police, in line with the provisions of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491) conducted an assessment of the proposed location for the picketing and concluded that holding the protests at Revolution Square could affect public order, endanger public defence, public safety and public health.
As a result, the police said it engaged the organisers and requested they consider an alternative location for the picketing, but the organisers refused.
“The police were, therefore, compelled to take the matter to court for a determination. On 18th September 2024, the High Court granted an order to prohibit Democracy Hub from embarking on the demonstration at the Revolution Square, from 21st to 23rd September 2024,” the police said.
In its update, dated September 20, 2024 the police said it had met with the organisers to deliberate on a proposed location, but no agreement was reached, as the alternative locations from both parties were not accepted by each party.
The protesters proposed 37 roundabout, Airport roundabout, the Opeibea intersection, Stanbic Heights, Christ the King and the Arko Adjei interchange.
The police said demonstrating at those locations would disturb public order and thus suggested the following seven locations; the Cantonments Post Office-DVLA stretch, the VAG Association junction-MTN Head office on the Liberation Road, El Wak side park, Obra Spot, Kawkudi Park, Efua Sutherland Park and the frontage of the Trade Fair, but the organisers refused.
The police, after picking intelligence of a planned demonstration, blocked and diverted some routes around the seat of the nation’s presidency, Jubilee House, as part of its “special operations.”
On Sunday, September 22, the police gave a third update and announced that the Democracy Hub demonstrators “unlawfully took over the 37 Intersection” and engaged in acts “intended to cause extreme inconvenience to the general public.”
The demonstrators blocked the intersection in all directions with vehicles and stones, setting fire in the intersection and playing football on the road.
Later that day, the police announced the arrest of 42 people, mostly the Democracy Hub demonstrators, who were engaged in various acts of lawlessness at the 37 Intersection in Accra.
“The demonstrators, who had unlawfully assembled at the 37 Intersection were seen attacking police officers performing their lawful duties, entering a police vehicle to remove the ignition key and throwing it away, pushing down police crash barriers, obstructing traffic, causing unlawful damage and disturbing the peace, among others,” the statement said.
The update said all the suspects, including some of the leaders of the group, were in police custody and will be put before the court, adding that the police were on a manhunt to get the rest of the perpetrators, including Oliver Vormawor, one of the leaders of the group, to face the law.
REBUTTAL
The demonstrators issued a statement to debunk allegations by the police that they were engaging in acts of lawlessness.
On the contrary, they requested a meeting with the police to address what they described as the “misconduct” of the Ghana Police Service.
According to them, the police declined the invitation and instead told them to release statements.
ARRESTS
Providing an update on the arrest and detention of protestors from the StopGalamseyNow demonstration, the statement confirmed that some protesters had been arrested, but added that the Ghana Police Service continued to refuse to disclose the total number of individuals arrested. “Based on our own estimations and reports, there are currently 32 individuals unaccounted for,” the statement said and added that the police have refused to grant the arrested persons access to legal counsel.
But the police released another statement and informed the public that on Sunday, 22nd September, 2024 violent clashes broke out between demonstrators from the Democracy Hub and officers of the Ghana Police Service at the 37 Intersection in Accra, leading to the arrest of 42 protesters, including some of the event’s conveners.
The statement said that 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.
One of the event conveners, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, was in several video footages removing the key from a police vehicle, which he later threw away.
Although police attempted to arrest him, Barker-Vormawor fled the scene and was later declared wanted by the police.
On Monday, September 23, 2024 the Ghana Police Service issued a fifth update to announce the arrest of Oliver Barker-Vormawor.
Earlier, the suspect had granted a media interview and said he would report to a nearby police station.
PROFESSIONALISM
In all these, the Ghana Police Service has received commendations for what has been described as their display of professionalism in handling the protesters by exercising restraint despite the provocation by the demonstrators.
Speaking to The Chronicle on Monday, September 23, 2024 the Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, opined that the professional handling of the demonstration by the Ghana Police Service gives hope to the nation.
He commended the level of tolerance displayed by the police towards the demonstrators, arguing that it depicted a new era of policing in Ghana, one that had long been yearned for by citizens.
In his estimation, the level of provocation the police suffered could leave them with no option but to react with brute force.
“In many parts of the world, demonstrations are allowed. But at the same time, the police exist to enforce the law. When demonstrators begin to act unlawfully, the police will react with all lawful means, including the use of teargas and others to control the situation. And we would be seeing casualties and loss of lives,” he opined.
Acknowledging the concerns of the protesters, he argued that the same did not warrant provoking the police, as seen with the demonstration.
“Under this circumstance, the police behaved in a way that was not known with them and I think that is very commendable and gives the nation hope,” he stated.
The Executive Director of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, in a post on his Facebook page, praised the police for keeping the public informed during the protest.
He wrote that, “Whatever happened during the anti-galamsey demo, the police service deserves praise for keeping the public informed at each stage of the protests and communicating their concerns.”
However, he continued that “it seems to me all would have ended well had the last request by the organisers to meet the police leadership to discuss their concerns before the final demonstration had been granted. Remember, the last demonstration by these same organisers was peaceful.”
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