The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the arrest of 'Democracy Hub' protestors on Thursday, September 21, 2023, in Accra.
According to the NDC, the action of the police is shameful and a violation of their fundamental rights.
“The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has learned with great disappointment the brutality meted out on the Occupy Jubilee House protesters in the early hours of today. The NDC is saddened by such crude tactics being deployed by the Police at a time when the IGP is being applauded for making efforts toward transforming the Ghana Police Service into the best institution in the country.
“This shameful show of brute force runs counter to that. It’s regrettable the police would think that violence and suppression of human rights is the best way to address issues,” the NDC said in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey.
The party also called for the release of the arrested protestors.
“After 31 years of our democratic journey, it is a crying shame that we cannot find more peaceful ways to address these issues. This is a massive step backwards for our democracy. We hereby call on the police to use professional means to handle these issues and to release the arrested protesters forthwith.
“In the spirit of solidarity, we extend empathy to protesters who have been injured and/or detained by the police. We hereby call on all progressive forces to join the NDC to provide legal and other support to assist all the protesters who have been arrested or injured by the police.”
Police arrested protestors who showed up within the vicinity of the Jubilee House for the #OccupyJulorBiHouse demonstration.
The organizers of the protest, Democracy Hub, had earlier notified the Ghana Police Service of their planned demonstration on Nkrumah Memorial Day to demand solutions to the economic crisis.
However, on the eve of the event, the police secured an injunction from the court barring the protest from moving forth.
According to the group, the selection of Nkrumah Memorial Day is vital to the message they want to put across as it commemorates “the spirit of resilience and resistance that led the struggle against oppression and dispossession.”
The protest went on as planned, however, during the exercise the police arrested and detained scores of the protestors.