The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that despite the inability of the Police to provide security for its protest, the party will still protest as scheduled.
The National Youth Organizer of the NDC George Opare Addo disagreeing with the move by the Police in a statement said there is no law which gives the Ghana Police Service power to stop demonstrations or protests and as such the power to stop lawful demonstration does not rest with the Police.
He also said in recent times,;the Ghana Police Service has slept on its core responsibilities to the general citizenry and is disregarding its duty.
Mr. Opare Addo added that the Ghana Police Service has metamorphosed into an agency of politics being used by government for its partisan bidding. He further described the move by the Police as one meant to impede the protest.
“In the wake of recent developments of insecurity, killing of innocent citizens by security forces and growing unemployment; causing young people despair,;the National Youth Wing of the NDC informed the Police of its scheduled demonstration and street protest;in accordance with Section 1 the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491).
“The Police accordingly responded to our letter on June 30, 2021 in a letter with reference number 84/vol.17/104,;and in a bizarre twist of events,;informed us that the Police cannot provide security to protestors, and insufficiently referenced EI 395 and section 4 of Act 492, amongst others, as a smoke screen to impede the protest.”
NDC
Restrictions imposed by (EI) 396 not lifted
The Ghana Police Service intimated that the restrictions imposed by the Executive Instrument (EI) 396 to contain the spread of the virus has not been lifted and as a result it cannot provide the NDC with security.
“The Accra Regional Police Command acknowledged receipt of your letter dated 30th June 2021,;on the above subject matter and wish to inform you that restrictions imposed by the Executive Instrument (EI) 396 to contain the spread the COVID-19 pandemic has still not been lifted.”
GPS
Giving reasons why they could protest,;the NDC further noted that,;section 4 of Act 491 specifically clothes the Minister of Interior with powers to impose curfew in the country,;and so far as they are concerned,;no part of Accra is under curfew for which reason demonstration cannot be held as the Police wants them to believe.
NDC
“The weakest of all reasons cited by the Police was it’s reference to EI 395 in it’s letter. For the records,;EI 395 was birthed on the strength of section 2 of the Imposition of Restrictions Act,;2020 (Act 1012) and gazetted on December 23, 2020. It is instructive to note that,;section 4 of Act 1012 provides that ‘a restriction imposed under subsection (1) of section (2) shall be;for a period of not more than three months’.”
The statement added that if the Police Service was meticulous and not preoccupied with petty partisan politics,;it would have known that EI 395 expired in March. In effect, there is no law as EI 395 to be adhered to.
