The Ghana Police Service has charged the leadership of the largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reconsider their routes for the planned demonstration against the Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Ernest Yedu Addison.
The demonstration was scheduled to be held on September 5, 2023 to protest on some inconsistencies in the national economy recorded in the current administration of the Bank of Ghana.
In a meeting with the leadership of the Police in Accra on August 23, 2023, the organizers of the protest march gave out the routes for the event, which are as follows; from the precincts of Parliament House through Osu Cemetery traffic light, High Court Complex, Ministry of Finance, Kinbu, Makola – Rawlings Park, Opera Square and finally at the premises of the Bank of Ghana Head Office.
The Police indicated their willingness to provide security for the demonstrators on the given demonstration day.
However, upon further revisions on public order and security, the leaders of the demo were asked to reconsider their given routes in order to ply in the interest of national security and ensure public law and order.
“Following the security assessment, an 23rd August, 2023, the Command engaged the organisers and assured them that the Police are ready to provide them the needed security to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate. However Police drew their attention to the fact that using their selected routes may endanger public order and public safety amony others. We therefore, requested the organisers to relocate the routes and destination of picketing in the interest of public order, public safety and running of essential services.”
The Police Service subsequently called for feedback from the NDC leaders on their concerns to prepare for the next line of action to provide adequate security during the scheduled demonstration.
“The Police are waiting to hear from the organizers to enable us provide them the recessery security during the protest. We would like to assure the public that the Police will continue to deliver on our mandate, as we work together to deepen our democratic credentials as a country.”
According to the NDC leadership, the upcoming demo was organised to protest the party’s aversion to the alleged illegal printing of money by the Central Bank of Ghana, an amount alleged to be surmounted to about Ghc 80 billion between 2021 and 2022.
The alleged offences were believed to have led to the increase of inflation rate to 54.1%, which peaked in December 2022. The corrupt acts have also been closely linked to the current government administration.
