The Ghana Police Service has stated that it will not be able to supervise a demonstration in which demonstrators carry weapons.
According to the Service, they are always prepared to offer security and protection for any legitimate demonstration, but not one involving the use of firearms.
The Greater Accra Regional Command’s answer was reflected in a statement signed by Chief Inspector Bright Kwabena Danso of the Public Affairs Unit.
Chief Inspector Danso stated that the police administration got a warning from a group of people, including Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah, Captain Godsbrain Smart, Benjamin Darko, and Oliver Barker-Vormawor, to begin a three-day protest on Saturday, June 4.
The petitioners among other things demanded the following:
- That the demonstrators intend to embark on a three-day demonstration, starting on 4th June 2022.
- That the demonstrators intend to contract a private security company to provide protection for the demonstrators.
- That the demonstrators and the contracted private security personnel will be armed with weapons.
- That the armed demonstrators will picket at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the Ghana Police Headquarters.
- That at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), they will demand to speak directly to the nation on GTV and lay out their grievances.
But responding to their request, the police said “we are therefore unable to provide security for a demonstration which is in flagrant violation of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 49) and has the potential to result in a breach of public order and public safety.”
They went on to say, “In the interest of public safety and security, the Police are putting in place all necessary precautions to ensure that unauthorized people do not march the streets with weapons.”
