Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
The leaders of the Democracy Hub have received a warning from the Ghana Police Service that legal actions will be taken to keep the peace following protesters’ major disruption of traffic on the first day of their rally.
The Police said in a statement made public on Sunday, September 22, that traffic diversions and road blockades in several areas of Accra caused daily operations to be disrupted and commuters to be negatively impacted due to a disagreement with the Democracy Hub on the location of their scheduled protest. In response, a special operation was started to maintain the city’s safety and order.
The demonstrators illegally occupied the 37 Intersection in spite of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department’s (MTTD) best efforts to control impacted routes and aid motorists and pedestrians.
Tensions were further escalated by reports that demonstrators stopped the road with cars and stones, started fires, harassed drivers, and played football. Amidst the turmoil, some police officers were also subjected to verbal abuse.
Commuters were stranded for hours due to the demonstrators’ illegal conduct, which severely disrupted traffic.
Hospitals were hard to get to for those in urgent need of care, and visiting sick relatives was very delayed for families. The Police raised concerns about the protest not being held peacefully in light of these disturbances and emphasised that such action was not only illegal but also un-Ghanaian.
As a result, the Police gave the organisers a severe warning, ordering them to move their rallies away from the 37 Intersection in the future.
The Police had proposed seven other locations, which they invited protestors to take into consideration. There, they would be present to provide the required protection and assistance.
