- author, Komla Adom
- role, Report from Accra, Ghana
On Thursday, police arrested demonstrators and brutally beat some of them, but on Friday demonstrators took to the streets again for Ghana.
I would like to protest and call for #OccupyJulorbiHouse to highlight the problems of bad government, corruption, insecurity, and economic mismanagement.
Pressure groups have come together to form a movement called ‘Democracy Hub’ to pressure cans to do better for the people.
The Democratic Party’s plan is to hold a three-day protest over the government seat.
Armed police personnel arrested at least 50 protesters on Thursday and detained them throughout the day.
Some Dee officials assaulted a number of protesters, including three journalists.
One of them is a female TV news anchor.
Bridget Otoo stands in front of the gate where Oda Pipo is, the police come and drag her inside.
“I’m just speaking for the cop’s commotion. He watches us all grab me and start dragging me inside,” Bridget told BBC Pidgin.
I’ll add something to say, I noticed that when I pressed, my clothes were torn.
Good Samaritan, please cover yourself with a scarf.
“They rip my dress off, but I never go to the police. We’re just standing here asking why they detain protesters for hours.”
Bridget also said that police assaulted one of the female reporters.
“Reporters, watch her say she filmed the police assault inside the station. I’m going inside the station.”
Add, “Get a reporter, call me later, call me in the morning.”
BBC Pidgin also said witnesses said police arrested several innocent bystanders who were not protesters.
Bernard Morna, one of the convenors of social activists, told journalists outside the police station that “the police do not carry out illegal searches.”
Akhta said they were holding more than 50 arrested pipo all day long and their lawyers had secured their release.
One of Prince Ganak of Dombi.
I would say that as of 10pm Thursday, the police will be able to secure the release of 56 pipos while they will be detained all day.
“We are doing our best to ensure that everyone is safe. Police do not require complicated sureties,” Prince added.
As far as they are concerned, I say the police will not file “any action against the arrest.”
Today is wedding day happening
As for the movement, as far as they are concerned, they will continue to protest.
“We will not tolerate any form of intimidation to stop our movement,” organizers said at a late-night press conference.
Heavy police presence is already in place in areas where group bins are expected to gather.
At least five police pickups, one bus and more than 30 people are waiting for protesters.
Police position on protests
Police said the crimes of the protesters arrested on Thursday were for unlawful assembly and violating police orders.
“The injunction application means the organizers are saying they will not go ahead with the march,” a service representative said.
In fact, the demonstrators say they are in contempt of court and insist they will continue demonstrating until they are arrested.
But Democracy Hub members said the police had shown “malicious intent in filing the injunction application in court at the last minute” and had notified police a month before the protests.
Democrats also claim that the injunction issued by police was a sham crackdown.
Article 21 of the Di Contri Constitution does not guarantee Di Pipo’s freedom of demonstration and assembly.
The public order law also requires all types of demonstrations to be reported to the police at least five days after the date of the demonstration.
“Unless the court’s ruling on the police injunction application says Pipo is prohibited from protesting, we cannot stop our demonstrations,” explains Isaac Yeboah, one of the group’s leaders.
Some celebrities have jumped on the hashtag #OccupyJulorbiHouse, condemning the police response to protesters on Thursday.