Police reinforce presence at Jubilee House, planned Nkrumah Day 'demo' by group quelled

The police on Thursday morning reinforced their presence at the Jubilee House ahead of a planned protest by a group at the frontage of the presidency.

As of 6 am Thursday [Sept 21], Graphic Online observed that more police officers had gathered at the frontage of the Jubilee House to reinforce the usual police presence in the area.

Protest quelled by police

The organisers of the protest had planned to assemble at the 37 Military Hospital bus station (trotro station), from where they were going to march to the Jubilee House.

But police officers quelled the protest and arrested the protesters, who were less than 50.

Those arrested were taken to various police stations in Accra.

As of 10 am, there was still police presence at the 37 Military Hospital bus station and any protester, wearing black or red who was seen around the area was arrested by the police.

Injunction

The Ghana Police Service in a statement on Wednesday [Sept 20] said it has filed an application at the High Court in Accra and successfully served organisers of the planned demonstration within the vicinity of Jubilee House from Thursday, 21st to Saturday, 23rd September, 2023.

An Accra-based civil society group organising the protest, Democracy Hub, had earlier notified the Police of their planned protest on Nkrumah Memorial Day to call on “the President and members of the Economic Management Team to #FixTheCountry in light of the level of economic mismanagement and theft that has engulfed our government from the highest levels.”

“The picketing will also allow citizens to express their opposition to the proposed military intervention in Niger as well as any other government policy decisions or initiatives,” it added.

According to the group, the selection of Nkrumah Memorial Day is vital to the message they want to put across as it commemorates “the spirit of resilience and resistance that led the struggle against oppression and dispossession.”

On Thursday morning, some of the protesters who gathered were arrested by the police.

NEWS RELEASE:

POLICE REFUTE CLAIM OF NON-SERVICE OF COURT PROCESS BY THE CONVENERS OF DEMOCRACY HUB pic.twitter.com/hJXy2NBO3D

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— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) September 20, 2023

Police reaction

In a press statement on Wednesday, the police announced that an application has been filed against the protest at the High Court and urged the public not to support the protest.

The Police further urged the public “to take note and disregard any calls from any individuals or groups encouraging them to assemble for a demonstration at the Jubilee House” as the parties wait for the court to determine the matter.

“We equally wish to urge the organisers to respect the due process in the interest of public order and public safety,” it added.

Jubilee House demo to proceed despite Police injunction application

Meanwhile, the organisers of the planned picket of Jubilee House have assured the public that the protest will proceed despite an injunction application filed at the court by the police.

The organisers, Democracy Hub, planned to demonstrate within the vicinity of the Jubilee House from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd September 2023.

The Hub expressed its disappointment at the “partisan attempts by the Police to disrupt peaceful and democratic mobilization for our upcoming Occupy Julorbi House picket.”

The group therefore urged the public in a press release to disregard the police communication and convene at the 37 Trotro Station for the protest.

Below is a copy of the press release by the group, Democracy Hub

PRESS RELEASE

#OccupyJulorBiHouse Protest

Our attention has been drawn to a last-minute press statement released by the Ghana Police Service claiming that they have filed an application to prohibit the lawful exercise of our rights to demonstrate.

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We wish to put it on record that the Ghana Police Service has not served us with any application, and we are unaware of what exactly the police application is about.

Further, we want the general public to know that throughout our engagement with the Police, they kept up ruse, making us believe that they would respect the law and fulfil their obligations under the Public Order Act.

We are appalled by the desperate and likely partisan attempts by the Police to disrupt peaceful and democratic mobilization for our upcoming Occupy Julorbi House picket.

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We invite the general public to disregard a statement which is riddled with misinformation.

Our picket will proceed as planned.

We invite the general public to assemble at the 37 Trotro station from 6:30 am tomorrow for onward march to the Julorbi House.

Our decision follows that of the legal position taken by the Government and the Electoral Commission that the mere filing of an application does not prevent the exercise of constitutional rights.

For God, Country and in the resistance to oppressors’ rule.

Signed
The Convenor