In the midst of the ongoing “Fix the Country” protests, Convener of the movement and Democracy Hub Oliver Barker-Vormawor accounted a harrowing encounter with the police, revealing the escalating tension between protesters and law enforcement officers.
Speaking at the media studios, after seeking refuge from what he described as aggressive police actions, Vormawor provided a detailed account of how demonstrators were brutalized, their public address systems towed away, and how he narrowly escaped arrest. According to Vormawor, the once peaceful protest took a violent turn when the police descended on the demonstrators, deploying force without any prior engagement. He lamented the shift in the police’s approach, contrasting it with the peaceful nature of the protest.
“The police have refused to engage with us, now they have set upon the protesters, brutalizing and arresting them. In particular, in my case, several hundred officers tried to arrest me, and I was able to get away.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor the Convener of the movement and Democracy Hub
This sudden change in the police’s response came as a shock, not only to the protesters but also to many Ghanaians watching the events unfold. The Fix the Country movement had organized the demonstration to draw attention to government inaction on key societal issues, including corruption and environmental degradation.
Lack of Dialogue with the Police
Vormawor expressed frustration over the police’s refusal to engage with the protest organizers despite multiple attempts to initiate dialogue.
“We wrote a letter to the Ghana Police Service, particularly because when we woke up, they had released a statement at 3 AM signaling their intention to use force against protesters. We replied to the press statement they issued and wrote an urgent letter. We called the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander and the Greater Accra Police Regional Lawyer.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor the Convener of the movement and Democracy Hub
Despite these efforts, the police declined the invitation for dialogue, stating that they were not interested in any discussions with the protest organizers.
“At this point, the institution itself is not interested in a conversation with organizers to ensure that the demonstration continues to proceed peacefully.”
Concerns About Police Intentions
The convener voiced concern about the shift in the police’s behavior, expressing uncertainty about the source of the sudden change in their approach. Previously, the Fix the Country organizers had managed to conduct peaceful demonstrations, but this time, the police’s hostile stance added tension to the event. He emphasized; “We don’t know where this change in approach and direction is coming from, they have shown every intent to stop the conversation around accountability.” The protest aimed to address issues related to environmental degradation, water pollution, and governance failures, making the police’s resistance particularly troubling for the movement’s leaders.
Call to Civil Society and the Public
Vormawor issued a strong appeal to civil society organizations, urging them to take decisive action in the face of the growing repression of peaceful protesters.
“We are using this medium to appeal to all those civil society organizations, and there are several hundred of them that have released statements calling for urgent action on this issue, this is not a Fix the Country fight. This is not a few young people’s fight. This is for all of us.”
He criticized the old methods to the authorities as inadequate in the face of current challenges, advocating for a more active and community-driven approach to mobilizing young people and the wider public.
“Writing letters does not work. We must engage seriously in the process of mobilizing young people, mobilizing our communities to become participants in the conversation.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor the Convener of the movement and Democracy Hub
Vormawor emphasized that the fight to stop environmental destruction and other societal issues was not the responsibility of a few individuals but a collective obligation for all Ghanaians. He urged people to rise beyond individualism and see the broader impact of inaction on future generations.
“Every Ghanaian must feel implicated and involved to stand forth and speak forth. Now we are taking this approach to ensure that many young people can also show that in addition to the written approaches, there must be an integrated, more sustainable, and community-driven approach to bringing everybody behind this call.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor the Convener of the movement and Democracy Hub
He further stressed the importance of collective action, stating that this fight should not be seen as the burden of the Fix the Country movement alone. Rather, it was a call to every Ghanaian to stand up against the injustices in society and work towards a more accountable government.
“It is not enough to segregate ourselves into various caucuses. The environment is not my responsibility or the responsibility of those of us standing here. It is all of our responsibility.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor the Convener of the movement and Democracy Hub
Vormawor stated that the failure of the Ghana Police Service to protect the environment and its apparent complicity in allowing environmental degradation should motivate more citizens to join the movement and speak out against such injustices.
“If you say we care about this, we cannot sit and watch as young people are being brutalized by our Ghana Police Service, individuals who have failed us in the fight against stopping our waters being poisoned.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor the Convener of the movement and Democracy Hub
Vormawor’s testimony highlighted the increasing tension between protest movements and state institutions, raising significant questions about the role of law enforcement in protecting the rights of citizens to protest peacefully. His called for collective action underscored the importance of broader public engagement in addressing systemic issues such as corruption, environmental degradation, and governance failures.
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