The Criminal Court 4 of the Accra High Court has ruled against the Ghana Police Service to allow pressure group, Arise Ghana, embark on its two-day demonstrations set for Tuesday, June 28 to Wednesday, June 29, 2022.
Presiding judge, Comfort Tasiameh ruled that Arise Ghana proceed with the demonstrations for both days but noted that they are to start at 8am and end at 4pm.
Justice Tasiameh added that the group should change its route by converging at Obra Spot at Circle through Farris Avenue to TUC and end at the Independence Square instead of their proposed venue of the Jubilee house. She further indicated that any petition they want submitted should be received by a representative of the President of available.
According to the court report, Lead Counsel for Conveners of Arise Ghana, Edudzi Tamakloe told the court that notice had been served to the Police on June 1 but the Service waited till few days to the protests before raising concerns.
As such, former PNC National Chairman, Bernard Mornah, an ally of the group filed a 37-pointer affidavit countering the statement released by the Police but lead prosecutor, DSP Asare prayed the court for adjournment to study the document since they had not yet received the document.
In that regard, Presiding judge, Comfort Tasiameh called for a recess till 11:30 am to allow prosecution to study and respond to the affidavit but after resuming, DSP Asare further prayed the court for further adjournment requesting additional time to study the document.
Lawyer Tamakloe however, prayed the court to dismiss the adjournment indicating that allowing it would set a precedent for the Police to use the tactic to frustrate citizens from going on protests.
Court action wasn’t seeking to injunct demo
Prior to the court ruling, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, who is also a member of the Arise Ghana pressure group explained that the court action was not seeking to injunct the demonstration.
Sammy Gyamfi described the Police statement as shameful. He further described the court action as “unreasonable”.
“It is wrong, it is not good for the administration of justice to issue a press release announcing the court action and date for the hearing.”
Sammy Gyamfi
Sammy Gyamfi then stated that the planned demonstration by the group was going to take place. “No! Nobody can stop this demonstration.”
The court ruling and Mr Gyamfi’s comments came after the Police filed a case in court against the scheduled demonstration by Arise Ghana due to a disagreement on the time frame and also the location.
Director of Police Operations, ACP Henry Otoo had filed an application to the court to bar the group from protesting from 3pm to 10pm citing terrorism and safety concerns.
