Democracy Hub Demo: Police says it will use 'all lawful means' to ensure free movement of traffic today

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Democracy Hub Demo: Police say it will use 'all lawful means' to ensure free movement of traffic today

GraphicOnline Sep - 22 - 2024 , 08:08

The Ghana Police Service has issued a warning to the organisers of the Democracy Hub street protest, cautioning that any attempt to continue their protest at the 37 Intersection or other unauthorised locations will be met with the "use of all lawful means possible to ensure the free movement of traffic and prevent undue inconvenience to the general public".

In a statement dated September 22, 2024, the police made it clear that they will use “all lawful means” to ensure the free movement of traffic and prevent further disruption to the public.

This warning follows events on Saturday where protesters blocked the 37 Intersection, causing widespread inconvenience and a traffic jam to motorists.

Demonstrators set fires on the road, blocked roads, and engaged in behaviour that disrupted traffic and endangered public safety. The police, in response, had to divert traffic and deploy officers to maintain order.

The Police Service had proposed seven alternative locations for the protest, but the organisers, dissatisfied with the options, took over the 37 Intersection on the first day of their planned three-day [September 21 to 23] demonstration, violating earlier agreements.

The police noted that this unlawful action caused delays in medical care, disruptions to social activities, and even impacted businesses, with some people missing flights.

"These unGhanaian, uncivil and unlawful acts of the demonstrators caused extreme inconvenience to commuters who were caught in traffic for several hours, persons in need of medical care had difficulty reaching the medical facilities, families visiting their loved ones who are on admission at the hospital had difficulty getting to them with essential supplies, there were delays in people attending social and cultural activities such as funerals which define us as a people and there was a negative impact on commercial activities including people missing their flights and others not being able to access their businesses," the Police statement said.

"In our assessment, these suggest that the demonstrators had no intentions to embark on a peaceful protest".

The statement emphasised that while peaceful protests are a constitutional right, actions that infringe on the rights of others, particularly by causing extreme public inconvenience, will not be tolerated. The police reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining security, law, and order in the capital city and called for public cooperation moving forward.

The statement signed by Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Director of Public Affairs, reiterated that the police are prepared to ensure the safety of both demonstrators and the general public but urged the organisers to cooperate by choosing one of the approved demonstration sites.