The Ghana Police Service has strongly denied allegations that they coerced accused persons involved in the Democracy Hub demonstration case to re-enact their protest at the 37 Intersection.
In a statement signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs, the Police refuted claims made by the legal representatives of the accused, who alleged that their clients were forced to take part in a crime scene reconstruction.
“Crime scene reconstruction, as part of an investigation, is a standard practice used by law enforcement agencies worldwide and is in full compliance with our established procedures.
“The Ghana Police Service has been using this practice since time immemorial.”
ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs
The Police clarified that the officers conducting the reconstruction were part of the original investigative team working on the case. As such, any “claims that they are not known to the accused persons are, therefore, not true.”
ACP Ansah-Akrofi’s statement reaffirmed that the detectives involved have been closely associated with the case from its inception and are highly familiar with the accused persons.
The Democracy Hub protest, which initially sparked widespread attention, has led to a high-profile legal case involving multiple individuals accused of various offenses. The claims of coercion raised by the defense team have further fueled public interest in the proceedings.
However, the Police categorically rejected the accusations, asserting that the crime scene reconstruction was carried out in accordance with long-established protocols and international practices.
The Ghana Police Service further addressed concerns regarding the presence of legal representation during the crime scene reconstruction.
According to the statement, all accused persons were informed of their right to have their legal representatives present during the process. The Police acknowledged that “some of the accused persons opted to take part…without their lawyers’ presence.”
“Other accused persons, however, insisted on their right to their lawyers and the reconstruction process for these persons is yet to be done.
“It is, therefore, untrue, that the accused persons were coerced or threatened with harm, to take part in the crime scene reconstruction.”
ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs
Public Misinformation and Previous Incidents
This latest allegation follows a series of incidents that the Police believe are part of a larger effort to undermine their credibility.
The Police referenced earlier attempts to distort facts and sway public opinion, particularly in relation to the Democracy Hub demonstration case.
“As the public may recall, several attempts have been made since this incident, to feed the public with falsehood, including the arrest of a 12-year-old child and a pregnant woman, all in the bid to create disaffection towards the Police.”
ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs
These incidents, which were widely circulated on social media and various media platforms, were later proven to be inaccurate, but they had already caused significant public outcry.
The Police urged the public to remain cautious and disregard any false information being spread in relation to the ongoing investigation.
The Democracy Hub demonstration, which took place in September, was intended as a peaceful protest advocating for greater government transparency and electoral reforms.
However, the event escalated into a confrontation between demonstrators and law enforcement, leading to multiple arrests. The accused individuals are now facing charges related to unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of public roads, among others.
While the trial is set to continue, the conflicting narratives between the defense and the Police are likely to keep this case in the public eye. As the Ghana Police continue their investigation, they are urging the public to critically evaluate any information related to the case and avoid being misled by false reports.
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