A video featuring Dr. Evans Ago Tetteh, husband of broadcast journalist Bridget Otoo, expressing profound outrage over her arrest and assault by the police during the OccupyJulorBiHouse demonstration in Accra, has gone viral, with the protest dominating headlines today.
Initially organized as a peaceful protest to demand transparency and accountability in governance, OccupyJulorBiHouse took an unexpected turn as law enforcement agencies made several arrests, including that of renowned journalist Bridget Otoo and other reporters.
In the viral video, Dr. Evans Ago Tetteh condemns the arrest and assault of his wife with palpable anger and emphasis, implying the situation as an egregious violation of their rights and an attack on the freedom of the press.
The video, which quickly spread across social media platforms, has sparked a wave of sympathy and support for the assaulted journalist.
Bridget Otoo, visibly shaken and angered in a subsequent interview after her release, described the assault in no uncertain terms.
Otoo further recounted witnessing another reporter allegedly assaulted by the police while filming an incident of brutality against a protester. This incident underscores the growing concerns about excessive use of force by law enforcement agents during the demonstration.
The arrest of journalists and protesters during what was intended to be a peaceful demonstration has ignited a nationwide conversation about the freedom of the press and citizens’ rights in Ghana. Legal experts, human rights advocates, and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation as it continues to develop.
Notably, the civil society group FixTheCountry has condemned the arrests and called on all Ghanaians to resist this apparent suppression of dissent, demanding the immediate release of those taken into custody.
As the nation watches these developments closely, questions surrounding the circumstances of the arrests, the alleged assault, and the broader implications for freedom of expression and assembly remain at the forefront of public discourse.
Local authorities have yet to comment on the situation, and international observers continue to monitor events in Accra closely.
