AG Godfred Dame Seeks To Criminalise Citizens’ Right To Protest

– #FixTheCountry Wants “Meddlesome” AG Thrown Out.

The FixTheCountry movement is praying an Accra High Court to dismiss the “meddlesome” Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame who is seeking to criminalise demonstrations and street protests in the ongoing tussle between the group and the Ghana Police Service (GPS).

Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame on Monday morning showed up in court to join the GPS to argue against the street protests planned by the Fix The Country movement seeking a systemic change to the rot and corruption in Ghana.

However, a member of the legal team for the campaigners, Julius Asinyo urged the court to dismiss the AG’s case, arguing that the court cannot hear a matter bothering on public order filed in the Republic’s name instead of a police officer.

“The applicant does not have the capacity to bring this application under section 1, subsection 6 of the public order act. Act 491. And as such, the Court is not clothed with jurisdiction to hear or grant the application.”

A spokesperson for the youth movement, Oliver Baker-Vormewor explains the curious case Godfred Dame is attempting to raise with the protestors.

“…The AG is arguing that because section 9 of the Public Order Act contains criminal penalties, every step taken under the Act is a criminal process. The absurdity is that almost every law contains criminal provisions. So when you incorporate a company under the Companies Act, you are engaging in a criminal activity; when you register a trademark, when you pay your taxes; all of them makes you a criminal?” Mr. Vormewor said.

“The way criminal suits are commenced is clearly outlined in the criminal procedure act. There was no charge sheet; there was no violation of crime alleged; no plea was taken etc. Further, who begins a criminal prosecution using the civil procedure rules?”

The GPS is engaged in a protracted tussle with the Fix The Country movement in an attempt to seek a restraining order preventing the group from staging its planned protests.

The Police claims, such a demonstration was a breach of the COVID-19 restrictions and a breach of the Public Order Act. However, while arguing vehemently against a group of young Ghanaians venting their spleens on the streets against corruption and systemic failures in the country, the police is allowing several other groups to converge in large crowds.

The latest was the funeral of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, the former General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). 

At the funeral last month, President Akufo Addo, Vice President Bawumia, Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah several dignitaries and over 1000 mourners mashed up at the funeral grounds in total disregard for the supposed COVID-19 restrictions.

The selective justice by the Akufo Addo administration and the GPS is building up anger among angry Ghanaian youth and there are indications that there could be an explosion of uncontrolled protests and riots soon.