The Police are entreating the organizers of the ‘Occupy Flagstaff House’ picket to reschedule the march.
The Public Relations Officer of the Greater Accra Police Command, DSP Freeman Tettey told Citi News, the timing of the protest is not convenient as far as public policing was concerned.
“The day in question is a public holiday and we want increase in police visibility. We are fully committed to providing general security to all Ghanaians. A lot of people will be stepping out and we are going to commit a lot of resources, in terms of personnel and logistics on the field so it will be difficult for us”, DSP Tetteh said.
The group plans to picket in front of the Flagstaff House on Tuesday, July 1 which is Ghana’s Republic Day to protest what they describe as harsh economic conditions in the country.
Apart from the day not being favourable, DSP Freeman Tettey also told Citi News, the Police declined to grant the group permission because the venue, “was a security zone”, adding, “we cannot compromise on our security”.
He said the Police gave three other venue options to the group leaders they met, but all options were subtly turned down, saying, “it looked as if we could not arrive at a definite solution with them so it’s becoming difficult.”
He called on the organizers to “abandon the idea, come to us later for a new date and we will discuss the venue and other factors that will be considered”.
DSP Tettey mentioned that the group threatened to go ahead “in spite of our plea and challenges. They sent a signal through their presentation that they will still go ahead and demonstrate.”
Meanwhile, another group of Ghanaians is expected to embark on a counter-demonstration on the same day in support of the President’s decisions in the face of the current crisis.
Organizer of the demonstration dubbed “Thousand-man-walk”, George Ekegey Eheha told Citi News, “President Mahama has taken bold decisions to turn the fortunes of the country around and needs to be supported.”
The police, however, said they were not aware of the second march, stressing, “if it comes off, it will be an illegality”.
By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana