The Ghana Police Service has dragged three Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to court over their refusal to postpone their respective demonstration dates.
The groups; Democracy Hub, Patriotic Hub, and Patriotic Forum for Accountable Governance each requested to picket and hold processions at the forecourt of the Jubilee House from December 1, 2023, to January 5, 2023, to push their respective interests.
The police in a statement said the time frame, location, and conflicting interests of the CSOs made it impossible for them to coordinate their activities adding that it was a threat to public safety, defence, and order.
On the back of this, the security service called a meeting with the three groups to postpone their dates.
However, the force’s inability to reach an agreement has forced them to refer the issue to the appropriate institution.
“Considering the disagreement on the matter, and the worrisome situation of there being three different groups intending to demonstrate at the same place, within the same time frame and having conflicting objectives the Pace Command, acting in accordance with the Public Order Act, resolved to refer the matters to the appropriate institution, to settle the disagreements and provide direction to the Police as well as the various Organisers,” portions of the release read.
On November 15, 2023, the police filed an application at the Accra High Court. The first hearing will be held on November 21, 2023.
Again, the police explained that on October 11, 2023, they received a notice from Democracy Hub, signed by Benjamin Akufo Darko requesting to have a month-long picketing from December 1 to 31 at the forecourt of Jubilee House between 6 am to 10 pm each day.
Democracy Hub’s activity is targeted at demanding the resignation of President Akufo-Addo or his impeachment by parliament, the November 17, release read.
A day after, the police received another notice from Patriotic Hub signed by Dennis Appiah Larbi requesting police protection through the month of December for 24-hour picketing. The exercise is aimed at calling for improved living conditions for Ghanaian citizens.
Subsequently, on October 23, 2023, the security service received a third notice from Patriotic Forum For Accountable Governance to embark on a procession from December 1 to January 5, 2023, also at the forecourt of the Jubilee House to express their heartfelt appreciation for sustaining the nation through Covid 19 and setting the nation on the path to economic recovery.
The Police said the time-lines for the various activities collide with Christmas and New Year Activities hence may endanger public safety, and defence and may interfere with the police plans to maintain law and order within the festivities hence the service inability to offer security services,
The release continued that in this regard protestors were asked to move their activities to any date after January 5, 2023.
The police added that CSO disagreement has forced it to send the matter to court.
Below is the press release:
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