The Police Had a Duty to Maintain Law and Order Richard Ahiagbah Defends Police Over Democracy Hub Demo

The Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has come to the defense of the Ghana Police Service over the recent arrest and remand of persons who engaged in the Democracy Hub demonstration.

Richard Ahiagbah opined that it is the right of citizens to embark on demonstrations, especially, one that seeks to promote accountability and ensure civility amongst all Ghanaians, however, the police must protect the lives of the demonstrators as well as ensure the safety of the general public.

In his official X page on Friday, September 27, 2024, Richard Ahiagbah wrote, “The right of citizens to protest in a democracy is inviolable and absolute. It's a tool at our disposal to hold governments accountable. The Democracy Hub’s protest about the adverse impact of Galamsey on the environment enjoys the support of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP, who have made every effort since 2017 to preserve our water bodies.”

According to the NPP National Director of Communications, the arrest and prosecution of some of the members of the Democracy Hub for the alleged violation of the law during their protest last week was to sustain law and order by the Police.

Mr. Ahiagbah indicated that the demonstration degenerated into violent obstruction on the roads, destroyed public and private properties, and caused panic among road users. In light of that, the police, according to Mr. Ahiagbah, therefore had a duty under the circumstances to sustain peace and order by fishing out the disruptive elements in the ranks of the protesters.

“They may have arrested an innocent spectator or peaceful protesters. When that is established, the police or the court must act quickly to free such people,” Richard Ahiagbah said.

Justice Kwabena Obiri Yeboah, the presiding judge ordered the Police to cater for the feeding of the protesters after reports revealed that they had gone three days without food after their arrests.

In an official police report, the Police stated that the chief convener of the demonstration, Oliver Barker-Vormawor was sent to the Police hospital for medical attention after which he was sent to the court where was ordered to be kept in remand as the police continued with their investigation.

“However, the execution of the protest suffered the infiltration of some radical elements whose participation detracted from the democratic essence of the protest and now has become a matter requiring the intervention of the police and the courts.  Somehow, the government is being blamed because critics and reporters, including @larryMadowo of CNN, assume that the protest was as peaceful as expected. The truth is that the demonstration degenerated into violent obstruction on the roads, destruction of public and private properties, and causing panic among road users.”

 “The police had a duty under the circumstances to sustain peace and order by fishing out the disruptive elements in the ranks of the protesters. They may have arrested an innocent spectator or peaceful protesters. When that is established, the police or the court must act quickly to free such people. Peaceful protests under H.E. Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia Mahamadu were without arrests or brutalities. For instance, the September 17th demonstration by the NDC against the Electoral Commission in Accra saw zero arrests or brutalities because it was peaceful. In our quest to protect and defend the rights of protesters, we must be careful not to overlook their excesses lest we undermine the capacity of law enforcement to secure public peace and order," he emphasised. 

Kobina Darlington/