Pressure group, Arise Ghana, has written back to the Police responding to an earlier letter that its planned two-day demonstration beginning, on 21st June 2022, cannot be allowed because the Police would not be in a position to provide security.
In the return letter, the group tells the Police that it has no lawful mandate to prevent the demonstration and therefore the group intends to embark on the demonstration as planned.
“In paragraph two of your letter, you indicated that your outfit cannot provide us with 48-hour security during our intended demonstration. We note that you did not provide any lawful or reasonable basis for this decision. We wish to draw your attention to the fact that, you have no power or authority whatsoever under the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491) and other laws of this country to limit or restrict the duration of demonstrations,” parts of the Arise Ghana letter sent today has said.
The letter is signed by Mr. Bernard Mornah, a leading member of the group.
The group says regardless of the police intransigence, it will converge at the popular Obra Spot on Tuesday, 21st June 2022 to stage the demonstration.
On June 1, 2022, Arise Ghana had written to the Accra Regional Police Command informing it of plans to stage a 48-hour demonstration starting from June 21.
In a reply, the Police said it cannot provide protection for the two-day picketing raising concern about the route chosen as well.
In a rather unconstitutional and dictatorial tone, the Police Command wrote to the group, saying: “The Accra Regional Police Command acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 01/06/2022 on the above subject matter (Notice of an intended demonstration). The Command wishes to inform you that it cannot provide you with 48-hour security on the street during your intended demonstration. Also, the command does not agree with your choice of route for the demonstration.”