The Ghana Police Service has explained that it arrested the Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah because he disregarded their advice not to hold a planned march on Saturday.
According to the Police, Mr. Mornah’s decision to hold the march against their advice could have occasioned a breach of peace and unlawful assembly.
[contextly_sidebar id=”QPYn8a3vuY9nYOt8BZ0y9FnDdB7v4Dm0″]Bernard Mornah and about 12 other people were arrested by the Nima Police on Saturday morning when they gathered as members of the Ghana-Togo Solidarity movement to hold a peaceful march to draw the attention of local and international authorities to the political crisis in Togo.
Reports say Mr. Mornah, who is the leader of the movement, failed to inform police about their action on the Kanda Highway today [Saturday], hence the action by police.
But Mr. Mornah denied the claim.
The Police, in a statement signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs ACP David Eklu said they arrested a total of 19 people on Saturday.
They also admitted that Mr. Mornah had duly notified them of the action and had initially been granted permission to carry out the march.
“The leader of the group, Mr. Bernard Mornah had earlier on served notice to the police of their intention of embarking on a demonstration of support of some Togolese nationals in Ghana who have been agitating for what they termed a change in government in Togo.”
“The police initially indicated their preparedness to provide the required security for the demonstration but based on an information received by the police that another group had planned to disrupted the demonstration as well as other operational exigencies the police had to handle, the leader of the group Mr. Bernard Mornah was advised to suspend the demonstration but he failed to heed the advice and went ahead to organize the group who assembled at Kawukudi park ready to embark on the demonstration,” the statement from the police said.
The police, in that statement copied to citifmonline.com failed to disclose details about the supposed group that planned to disrupt Mr. Mornah’s group’s march, however, it called on the public to cooperate with it during the Christmas season to ensure peace and security throughout the period.
“The Police administration is once again appealing to persons or group of persons who intend to embark on any public event especially during the Christmas period to cooperate with the police to ensure the security of the demonstrators as well as members of the public”
Counsel for Mr. Mornah, Raymond Atuguba had earlier written to the police to demand clarification about the detention of his client and details of any legal actions to be taken against him after what he terms as an “illegal arrest”.
It is unclear if Mr. Mornah is being processed for court.
26 Togolese arrested for illegal protest in Accra
In October 2017, 26 Togolese nationals were arrested for attempting to stage an unlawful demonstration over the political situation in their country.
According to the Accra Regional Police Operations Officer, Chief Superintendent Kwasi Ofori, about 300 Togolese had to be dispersed lawfully at the Kawukudi Park because their intended action was in clear breach of Ghana’s public order act.
That was the second time that Togolese in Ghana have tried demonstrating in solidarity with efforts back home by the opposition to have presidential term limits.
Togolese crisis
Togo’s opposition parties have over the past few months been demanding a return to constitutional term limits for the Presidency, and also for President Faure Gnassingbe to step down.
Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005 after the death of his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for nearly 50 years.
The anti-Gnassingbe protests, that have seen hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets across the country, have resulted in over 15 people killed and scores injured.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana