Policemen who detained Democracy Hub protesters beyond 48 hours facing disciplinary action - Police

The Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB), formerly known as PIPS has been directed to investigate the circumstances under which two suspects in the Democracy Hub street protest were kept in Police custody beyond 48 hours without being sent to court.

The Police Professional Standards Bureau's investigation is to ensure that the necessary disciplinary action is taken against the policemen responsible for not taking the suspects to court and detained them beyond the lawful 48 hours.

This was made known in a police update issued on Thursday night [September 26, 2024] on the Democracy Hub street protest.

The police statement, signed by Grace Ansah-Akrofi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and Police Director of Public Affairs stated that the move was part efforts to be transparent, and maintain high ethical and professional standards.

"We would like to once again assure the public that the Police remain committed to nurturing our growing democratic freedoms by providing the necessary security for individuals and groups to exercise their constitutional right to protest safely and peacefully in accordance with the laws governing protests in our beloved country" it added.

Related: Woman with 12-year-old girl at Democracy Hub protest charged with offence of exposing child to danger - Police

Meanwhile, the police has said the woman who was seen with a 12-year-old girl at the Democracy Hub street protest has been charged with the offence of exposing a child to danger.

The Ghana Police Service has said the woman, Grace Asantewaa is 50-years-old and not 68 years as claimed.

In the statement, the police said she had brought the 12-year-old girl to the protest and at the time of the arrest, the police did not separate her from the child as a guardian.

The two were taken to the police station where she was granted a police enquiry bail to enable her go home with the child.

"Following the arrests, the attention of the Ghana Police Service has been drawn to reports suggesting that a 12-year-old child, a 68-year-old woman, and a pregnant woman were among those arrested and detained. We would like to categorically state that all these are false. We, therefore, urge the public to disregard these reports and treat them with the contempt they deserve," the police update statement  said.

The police explained that in "the case of the 12-year-old child and the 68-year-old woman, in the course of the arrest, Police realized that one of the suspects, Grace Asantewaa, a 50-year-old woman, who is being reported as a 68-year-old, had a child with her."

"In order not to separate the child from the woman, the child was allowed to accompany her to the Police Station. At the Police Station, Police provided the child with food and for the sake of the child, her guardian, Grace Asantewaa, was granted a Police enquiry bail and allowed to go home with the child."

It said the Ghana Police Service has charged Grace Asantewaa with the offence of exposing a child to danger, by bringing her to the demonstration grounds, contrary to section 71 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

"We would like to use this opportunity to advise members of the public to be mindful of involving our beloved children in activities that have the potential to expose them to danger," the police statement added.

Democracy Hub protester on remand Gloria Vera Louise is not pregnant as claimed - Police

Pregnant woman

On the issue of the reported arrest and remand of a pregnant woman without providing her with medical care, the police said it is not true that one of the accused persons in the Democracy Hub street protest case was pregnant and the police have kept her in custody without medical care.

In the press statement updating the public on police actions on last weekend's street protest, the police explained that in the case of the alleged pregnant woman, Gloria Vera Louise, "We would like to clarify that at the time of the arrest, there was no visible indication that she was pregnant."

"Additionally, at no point during the arrest or subsequent interactions did the said suspect inform the Police of a pregnancy."

"Again, there was no communication to the court of any such condition, either by herself or through her lawyers."

The police in the update described as number seven on the Democracy Hub protest explained that in order to establish the veracity or otherwise of the claim in the public domain of the alleged pregnancy, the Police took the initiative and sent her to the Police Hospital and an independent health facility for a thorough medical examination.

"Both medical results came out negative, suggesting that Gloria Vera Louise, is not pregnant as claimed," the statement added.

POLICE UPDATE SEVEN (7) ON DEMONSTRATION BY DEMOCRACY HUB

1. As the public may recall, the Police, on 9th July 2024, received a notice from the Democracy Hub, of their intention to hold a protest from 21st to 23rd September 2024, at the Revolution Square in front of the Jubilee House.

2. On receipt of the notice from the group, the Police engaged the conveners and agreed with them on the chosen date of the demonstration but advised them to change their chosen venue, the Revolutionary Square, which was considered a security zone and likely to affect public defence, public order, public safety, public health and the running of essential services.

3. However, the organizers refused to consider an alternative location and insisted on picketing at the Revolutionary Square. The Police were, therefore, compelled to take the matter to the court for a determination as to the venue. For purposes of emphasis, the Police were not in court to prevent them from demonstrating on the stated dates.

4. The High Court, on 18th September 2024, granted an order to prohibit Democracy Hub from using the Revolution Square as the venue for their intended demonstration.

5. The Police subsequently met with the organizers and urged them to accept seven venues proposed by the Police. Unfortunately, despite Police efforts to facilitate their constitutional right to demonstrate, the organisers remained adamant and insisted that they would disobey the order of the courts and picket at the Revolution Square in front of the Jubilee House.

6. On 21st September 2024, the demonstrators unlawfully assembled at the 37 Intersection and engaged in the following acts, among others, which caused extreme inconvenience to the general public, particularly the motoring public.

   • Blocking the intersection in all directions with vehicles, stones and logs, causing massive vehicular traffic across the City

   • Setting fire in the Intersection
   • Harassing and attacking road users including Military and Police officers
   • Abusing Police and Military officers
   • Banging on vehicles
   • Playing football in the road and
   • Causing unlawful damage
   
   7. 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, and families visiting their loved ones who were on admission at the hospital had difficulty getting to them with essential supplies. Also, 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.
   
   8. Following an assessment of the situation at the end of the first day, the Police cautioned the organisers that the Police would not allow them to demonstrate at the 37 Intersection. Instead, they should move to one of the seven locations suggested by the Police, where security would be provided.
   
   9. The demonstrators disregarded the caution by the Police and unlawfully assembled once again at the 37 Intersection the following day, and began to repeat their previous day actions.
   
   10. While the Police were professionally and persuasively engaging the demonstrators to leave the street and restore normal traffic flow, the demonstrators attacked the Police. One of them entered a Police vehicle, removed the ignition key, and fled with it, while others threw Police crash barriers at the Police officers, among others. The Police had no option but to arrest them.

11. In the midst of all these provocations, the Police did not use any force against anyone.

12. In all, 54 persons were arrested and all of them have been put before the court in line with the due process of the law.

13. The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney-General.

14. Following the arrests, the attention of the Ghana Police Service has been drawn to reports suggesting that a 12-year-old child, a 68-year-old woman, and a pregnant woman were among those arrested and detained. We would like to categorically state that all these are false. We, therefore, urge the public to disregard these reports and treat them with the contempt they deserve.

15. In the case of the 12-year-old child and the 68-year-old woman, in the course of the arrest, Police realized that one of the suspects, Grace Asantewaa, a 50-year-old woman, who is being reported as a 68-year-old, had a child with her. In order not to separate the child from the woman, the child was allowed to accompany her to the Police Station.

16. At the Police Station, Police provided the child with food and for the sake of the child, her guardian,
Grace Asantewaa, was granted a Police enquiry bail and allowed to go home with the child.

17. The Ghana Police Service has charged Grace Asantewaa with the offence of exposing a child to danger, by bringing her to the demonstration grounds, contrary to section 71 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

18. We would like to use this opportunity to advise members of the public to be mindful of involving our beloved children in activities that have the potential to expose them to danger.

19. In the case of the alleged pregnant woman, Gloria Vera Louise, We would like to clarify that at the time of the arrest, there was no visible indication that she was pregnant. Additionally, at no point during the arrest or subsequent interactions did the said suspect inform the Police of a pregnancy. Again, there was no communication to the court of any such condition, either by herself or through her lawyers.

20. In order to establish the veracity or otherwise of the claim in the public domain of the alleged pregnancy, the Police took the initiative and sent her to the Police Hospital and an independent health facility for a thorough medical examination.
Both medical results came out negative, suggesting that Gloria Vera Louise, is not pregnant as claimed.

21. As part of our efforts to be transparent, and maintain high ethical and professional standards, the Police Administration has directed the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB, formerly PIPS) to investigate the circumstances under which two of the suspects were kept in Police custody beyond 48 hours without being sent to court, for necessary disciplinary action to be taken against those responsible.

22. We would like to once again assure the public that the Police remain committed to nurturing our growing democratic freedoms by providing the necessary security for individuals and groups to exercise their constitutional right to protest safely and peacefully in accordance with the laws governing protests in our beloved country.

GRACE ANSAH-AKROFI
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS