Today’s meeting comes weeks after the leaders of the political parties met the President in Accra to report on progress made so far.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2Q6IwcAlhBfjMtKB5KJd71YIAKcFMDdZ”]The 14 opposition parties suspended all forms of protests and demonstrations as agreed in their last meeting.

They are pushing for a return to the country’s 1992 constitution which imposes limits on presidential terms.

Faure Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005 when his father, Eyadema Gnassingbe, died. His father had ruled the country for 38 years.

There have been protests against the Togolese government in demonstrations that were in some cases met with acts of violence by state security forces.

The demonstrations were started by the main opposition PNP and CAP 2015, a coalition of five smaller opposition parties before expanding.

The 14 parties decided to suspend all forms of protests and demonstrations aimed at forcing President Faure Gnassingbe to step down,  following a meeting between President Nana Akufo-Addo and representatives of the government in Togo.

Support in Ghana

Their cause has gathered some support in Ghana notably from the Ghana-Togo Solidarity Movement, which is led by Bernard Mornah.

Just like protesters in Togo, Ghana-Togo Solidarity Movement supposedly fell foul of law according to Police.

In December 2017, Mr. Bernard Mornah, Chairman of Ghana’s People’s National Convention, PNC, and some members of the group were arrested for a supposed illegal protest against the continuous rule of Gnassingbe and his disrespect for Togo’s constitutional term limit.

He has complained that the Ghana Police Service’s frequent interruptions in their lawful protests only gives the impression that the government of Ghana is in support of Faure Gnassingbe’s ill-governance.

This is despite the government’s consistent assurances of its neutrality.

Mr. Mornah vowed that the movement will support Togolese citizens to ensure that Gnassingbe steps down.

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By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo returns to Togo to continue mediation appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

About 19 persons, including Mr. Mornah, were arrested by the Nima Police on December 16, 2017, 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.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Lwd6R03ksfXJhhLRoMrsxbdaLknCTd50″]According to the Police, they had earlier permitted Bernard Mornah and his group to undertake the march, however, they informed him later to cancel it due to operational challenges and intelligence that another group was trying to interrupt their activity.

But Mr. Mornah denied the claim, saying that he had assured the Police the peaceful march required very little or no police presence.

Mornah also added the Attorney General to the suit, praying the court to declare that his rights have been trampled upon.

The PNC Chairman in his writ wants a declaration from the court to the effect that “my right to personal liberty has been violated… that my right to dignity has been violated… that my freedom of assembly, including freedom to take part in processions and demonstrations, has been violated…adjudge and declare that my right to administrative justice has been violated by the 1st respondent [IGP].”

He also wants the IGP and the Attorney General to compensate with “the sum of GHc136, 960.50 being the cost incurred by the Ghana-Togo solidarity movement in organizing the aborted rally.”

Police treated me worse than a drug lord

Bernard Mornah had earlier described the treatment meted out to him by the Police following his arrest as being worse than how convicted drug lords are handled.

“They just caught me like a cow, threw me in the bucket of the pickup as if I’m for the slaughterhouse. Two policemen jumped into the car with their guns on my head. When I pulled out my phone to call my lawyer, they said put off your phone or we’ll shoot you. They turned on their sirens, came onto the Kanda Highway and meandered through traffic with all motorists’ eyes on me. Escobar, the notorious drug baron, was not even treated the way I was treated.”

Kan-Dapaah ordered my arrest – Bernard Mornah alleges

Mr. Bernard Mornah is convinced that the frustration of his planned peace march was orchestrated by the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah.

According to him, the minister took the action in order to protect the image of the Togolese president, Faure Gnassingbe, whom he claims is Mr. Kan-Dapaah’s close friend.

‘Defiant’ Mornah stages another Ghana-Togo solidarity rally

Despite being frustrated early on, Mornah on December 30, 2017, led his group to stage the rally in Accra to draw the attention of local and international authorities to the political crisis in Togo.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Mornah sues IGP; demands GHc136, 000 for ‘unfair’ arrest appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows an article from the Speaker arguing that the date should be moved from July 1 to January 7.

[contextly_sidebar id=”MT6LHfOGm8y5fZpU3Gipjku2A8J51Q2y”]Prof. Ocquaye argued that, technically, the only existing republic is the one referred to as the Fourth Republic, which began on January 7, 1993, with Jerry John Rawlings.

In his view, all other republics are ostensibly non-factors because they were overthrown by coup d’états.

But Mr. Mornah believes Prof. Ocquaye should have more reverence for the symbolism of certain historical moments.

“…As somebody who is supposed to be a historian, it beats my imagination that he is throwing history to the dustbin because we are celebrating Republic Day for its significance in history. Not because there is a termination or otherwise.”

“We have categorized each of them to signify something so that all of us would know that the Republic that we are celebrating today did not just come about,” Mr. Mornah stated.

Prof. Ocquaye, who delivered a controversial Founder’s Day Lecture, urged Ghana to recognize August 4 in Ghana’s history. That proposal is to be considered, as an executive order has since been given by President Nana Akufo-Addo to effect the change.

Mr. Mornah thus described the Speaker’s recent call as his latest attempt to rewrite history, and that “it is obvious that Prof. Michael Ocquaye in this write-up has not spoken what is supposed to be.”

Ghana became a republic on July 1, 1960, in what is regarded as the First Republic, marking the attainment of complete political autonomy from the United Kingdom.

The Second Republic came into being in 1969, the third in 1979 before the Fourth Republic in 1993, under the regime of Jerry John Rawlings and the NDC.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Republic Day: Speaker missing symbolism of July 1 – Mornah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Communications Director of the PNC, Emmanuel Wilson, Mr. Mornah was in the company of the suspended General Secretary Atik Mohammed at a recent meeting organized by President Akufo-Addo for political party leaders.

[contextly_sidebar id=”phQAYDx4gV9rFbpngMKZbHzptP01HRCv”]“We got the notification that the National Chairman was at the Flagstaff house with the suspended General Secretary. Now if you look at our constitution, one duty of the members of the party is that, they are supposed to uphold decisions of the National Executive Council and decisions of the leadership of the party at all cost, and so for the National Chairman to attend a function, with a suspended General Secretary, it means that the National Chairman has deliberately decided to breach the provisions of our constitution,” he said.

This Emmanuel Wilson said was inappropriate, especially when the party has suspended Atik Mohammed, a decision the Chairman is well aware of.

Speaking to Citi News, Emmanuel Wilson said  although Mr. Mornah has denied knowledge of how the suspended General Secretary gained access to the meeting, he still went ahead to acknowledge him at the meeting.

“The National Chairman was confronted and he indicated that he was not aware that the suspended general secretary was going to be there, but funny enough, when he got there and introduced himself as the National Chairman, we were told that he gave the microphone to the suspended General Secretary who communicated as the General Secretary and he was there and he seconded it”.

Emmanuel Wilson says the National Executive Committee will be meeting to determine the fate of the National Chairman concerning his disregard for the party’s constitution.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post PNC accuses Bernard Mornah of disrespecting party leadership appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

About 19 persons including Mr. Mornah were arrested by the Nima Police for their initial attempt to stage the rally earlier in December.

[contextly_sidebar id=”phN4Cud6R9Ok986MLq9w1FQ1bYmzjawx”]According to the Police, they had earlier permitted Bernard Mornah and his group to undertake the march, however, they informed him later to cancel it due to operational challenges and intelligence that another group was trying to interrupt their activity.

But Mr. Mornah denied the claim, saying that he assured the Police the peaceful march required very little police presence.

The PNC Chairman had vowed to organise another rally, notifying the Police of the group’s intention as required by law, which they had also done prior to their previous attempt.

“As we speak today there are possessions that are going on in Togo. As we speak there is a rally that is going on in Burkina Faso there are rallies going on in Nigeria. All we are doing across the continent is to show country support for the people of Togo who are suffering for enhanced freedom,” Bernard Mornah said in an interview with Citi News after the event.

“For those who have said, that it is that it is Togo, come and talk about Ghana matter and forget about  Togo, they have forgotten that if there is fire at your neighbor’s house and you do not go to help to quench it, that same fire can be taken to your own home and you may also not be able to contain it and your neighbor will also sit down, so I see Togolese as part and parcel of Ghana and it important that we show that the Ghanaian people are not opposed to the struggling people of Togo’’ he said.

‘Like a cow for slaughter’

The actions of the group came under the spotlight after the police detained several of its members during its initial rally in Accra.

Bernard Mornah, narrating his ordeal at the hands of the Police when he was arrested after the first rally, said he had been bundled into a police vehicle and told that he “would be shot” if he attempted to make a call on his mobile phone.

He described his treatment as that of a cow being sent to slaughter, adding that the police had treated him worse than how some notorious drug lords had been treated when they were detained.

“They just caught me like a cow, threw me in the bucket of the pickup as if I’m for the slaughterhouse. Two policemen jumped into the car with their guns on my head. When I pulled out my phone to call my lawyer, they said put off your phone or we’ll shoot you,” he said.

“They turned on their sirens, came onto the Kanda Highway and meandered through traffic with all motorists’ eyes on me. Escobar, the notorious drug baron, was not even treated the way I was treated.”

When asked whether he was armed, Bernard Mornah responded: “I didn’t even have a car key on me.”

Police to face the law

Bernard Mornah and those arrested were kept behind the Police counter for hours without clarification about their exact offence.

This prompted his counsel, Dr. Raymond Atuguba to write to the police, Chief Justice, Attorney General and the President over the matter, demanding details about the arrest.

Bernard Mornah was however granted bail later.

He has since told Citi News that his lawyers will serve the Police notice of a legal action for the ‘unlawful’ arrest.

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By: Farida Yusif/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Defiant’ Mornah stages another Ghana-Togo solidarity rally appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Mornah made the call following statements from the Ambassador describing Ghana’s vote against the US on making Jerusalem the capital of Israel as a ‘regrettable mistake’.

According to Mr. Mornah, the Israeli Ambassador had shown gross disrespect to the integrity of the President Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana by his comments.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vLINoaiGdfsSF5zysDGEuaJOQmfkxxZw”]In a statement issued shortly after the UN vote, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana expressed his country’s disappointment over the vote.

The statement said it was hopeful that Ghana will not repeat “such mistake” in subsequent motions before the General Assembly.

Speaking to Citi News, Vice Chairman of the PNC, Henry Asante, reprimanded Mr. Mornah and dissociated the party from the call.

“…So long as the party is concerned, the party has not made any statement or come together to think of anything of that nature, so for the Chairman to go out to make that statement is a surprise to some of us. We can assume that he was making it out of his personal conviction, and with that we have no qualms with it. But the party will not take kindly to him being associated with it “he said

He noted that any statement that comes from the party must be well-thought through and must be approved by the leader.

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By: Farida Yusif/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post PNC slams Mornah for calling for Israeli Ambassador’s expulsion appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, the Convenor of the Ghana-Togo Solidarity movement narrated his ordeal at the hands of the Police, claiming that he had been bundled into a vehicle and told that he “would be shot” if he attempted to make a call on his mobile phone.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wKC8e1rmYwvfErGHIUT9q4VNUhPP9HzM”]He described his treatment as that of a cow being sent to slaughter, adding that the police had treated him worse than how some notorious narcotics kingpins had been treated when they were detained.

“They just caught me like a cow, threw me in the bucket of the pickup as if I’m for the slaughterhouse. Two policemen jumped into the car with their guns on my head. When I pulled out my phone to call my lawyer, they said put off your phone or we’ll shoot you,” he said.

“They turned on their sirens, came onto the Kanda Highway and meandered through traffic with all motorists’ eyes on me. Escobar, the notorious drug baron, was not even treated the way I was treated.”

When asked whether he was armed, Bernard Mornah responded: “I didn’t even have a car key on me.”

About 19 persons including Mr. Mornah 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.

According to the Police, they had earlier permitted Bernard Mornah and his group to undertake the march, however, they informed him later to cancel it due to operational challenges and intelligence that another group was trying to interrupt their activity.

But Mr. Mornah denied the claim, saying that he assured the Police the peaceful march required very little police presence.

He has since told Citi News that he has spoken to his lawyers about commencing legal proceedings against the Police later this week.

‘Same place,  same time next week’

Undeterred by his arrest and treatment, Bernard Mornah also revealed that plans are in place to stage another rally on December 25.

According to him, a letter has been written to notify the Police of their intention to organise the march next week, as is required by law.

“I have drafted a letter to send to the Police tomorrow morning. A week from today, which is the 25th of December, we shall be organizing a rally at the same venue at 9 am,” he said

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Police treated me worse than a drug lord – Mornah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, a letter has been written to notify the Police of their intention to organise the march next week, as is required by law.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nqAtE162W0Swh7NC7BGeFXmbnZ1Yxdqb”]”I have drafted a letter to send to the Police tomorrow morning. A week from today, which is the 25th of December, we shall be organising a rally at the same venue at 9 am,” he said on Eyewitness News on Monday.

About 19 persons including Mr. Mornah 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.

According to the Police, they had earlier permitted Bernard Mornah and his group to undertake the march, however, they informed him later to cancel it due to operational challenges and intelligence that another group was trying to interrupt their activity.

But Mr. Mornah denied the claim, saying that he assured the Police the peaceful march required very little police presence.

He has since told Citi News that he has spoken to his lawyers about commencing legal proceedings against the Police later this week.

‘Like a cow for slaughter’

Bernard Mornah, narrating his ordeal at the hands of the Police on Saturday, said he had been bundled into a police vehicle and told that he “would be shot” if he attempted to make a call on his mobile phone.

He described his treatment as that of a cow being sent to slaughter, adding that the police had treated him worse than how some notorious drug lords had been treated when they were detained.

“They just caught me like a cow, threw me in the bucket of the pickup as if I’m for the slaughterhouse. Two policemen jumped into the car with their guns on my head. When I pulled out my phone to call my lawyer, they said put off your phone or we’ll shoot you,” he said.

“They turned on their sirens, came onto the Kanda Highway and meandered through traffic with all motorists’ eyes on me. Escobar, the notorious drug baron, was not even treated the way I was treated.”

When asked whether he was armed, Bernard Mornah responded: “I didn’t even have a car key on me.”

Police to face the law

Bernard Mornah and those arrested were kept behind the Police counter for hours without clarification about their exact offence.

This prompted his counsel, Dr. Raymond Atuguba to write to the police, Chief Justice, Attorney General and the President over the matter, demanding details about the arrest.

Bernard Mornah was however granted bail later.

He has since told Citi News that his lawyers will serve the Police notice of a legal action for the ‘unlawful’ arrest.

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Defiant’ Mornah to organise another rally on December 25 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, that position “is not the law of the land,” as the Police want to impose on citizens.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3MFoxYl7Pzh59SWfWZSDKuldNTXl6EwO”]Bright Simons’ comment comes on the back of the arrest of the chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah on Saturday by the Nima Police, while he rallied some citizens at the Kawukudi Park to embark on a peaceful march.

The about 19 persons, including Bernard Mornah, who were arrested were members of the Ghana-Togo Solidarity Movement whose peaceful march was to draw the attention of local and international authorities to the political crisis in Togo.

They were detained behind the police counter for hours without explanation of their offence.

The Police later argued that it had not approved the movement’s gathering.

However, Bernard Mornah revealed that the Police had granted them the permission to embark on the peaceful march until they called on him much closer to the event day to cancel it due to operational challenges.

He said he assured the police the peaceful march required very little police presence and that the march could not be postponed because of the resources invested into its preparation.

Bernard Mornah said the police on the event day, arrested them in “rambo style” and threw him into a police vehicle “like a piece of charcoal.”

Bright Simons in a Facebook post on the matter said the police must cease the “illegal, oppressive behavior,” that sees it arrest citizens under such circumstances.

He argued that the Police must seek the necessary parliamentary action on a draft bill from the Interior Ministry to enable it to get the authority to approve notices of events before they are held.

“This continued insistence by the Police that they must approve all notices given to them ahead of public, non-commercial, events IS NOT THE LAW OF THE LAND! If they believe they need this law, they should talk to their sector Minister to head to Parliament with the requisite draft bill….Can they stop this illegal, oppressive, behavior already!” he posted.

Bright Simons insisted that the Police must render an apology to Bernard Mornah and the others who were arrested for abusing their rights.

He said they must also show remorse publicly for their action and cease any investigation into the matter.

“They should discontinue all ongoing “investigations”/proceedings against the Kawukudi 19, apologise to them for the abuse of their rights, and show contrition publicly!” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bernard Mornah has vowed to drag the Police to court for abusing his rights.

What does the Public Order Act say?

The Public Order Act 1994 (ACT 491), from where the Police draws its authority in the holding of special of events indicates that, in attempt to stop a special events from occurring either because organizers refuse to comply with a request to postpone or relocate events, “police may apply to any judge or a chairman of a Tribunal for an order to prohibit the holding of the special event on the proposed date or at the proposed location.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Stop illegal, oppressive arrests – Bright Simons to Police appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the action of the police is likely to attract negative media attention to the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”HIidcXpKRkSp4uPtL0f8iKiycrQ8DHTD”]The 19 persons including Bernard Mornah, 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.

According to the Police, they had earlier permitted Bernard Mornah and his group, to undertake the peace march, however, they informed him later to cancel it due to operational challenges, and intelligence that another group was trying to interrupt their activity.

But Mr. Mornah denied the claim, saying that he assured the police that the peaceful march required very little police presence and that the march could not be postponed because of the resources invested into its preparation.

Franklin Cudjoe, who commended Bernard Mornah and the group for the initiativem said he believes their action was “harmless” and did not warrant the police’s action.

“I’ve seen a circular Bernard has sent around for this particular program and I thought it was really harmless.  They have been trying to raise issues about international oppression and all that. I think these are commendable as far as these people are bringing attention to oppression from afar and in this case, so close to us [Togo]. I think the police overreacted. They could have just allowed them. The challenge is that this thing will hit he international wires,” Franklin Cudjoe remarked.

Meanwhile, Bernard Mornah, who was granted bail after hours of being kept behind police counter without explanation of his offense, has indicated that he will drag the police to court for violation of his human rights.

‘Stop illegal, oppressive arrests’

Ghanaian innovator and researcher with IMANI Africa, Bright Simmons, has challenged the police over its suggestion that it must approve all notices of non-commercial events before they can be held.

According to him, that position “is not the law of the land,” as the Police want to impose on citizens.

In a Facebook post concerning the arrest of the members of the movement, Bright Simons said, “This continued insistence by the Police that they must approve all notices given to them ahead of public, non-commercial, events IS NOT THE LAW OF THE LAND! If they believe they need this law, they should talk to their sector Minister to head to Parliament with the requisite draft bill….Can they stop this illegal, oppressive, behavior already!… They should discontinue all ongoing “investigations”/proceedings against the Kawukudi 19, apologize to them for the abuse of their rights, and show contrition publicly!”

What does the Public Order Act say?

The Public Order Act 1994 (ACT 491), from where the Police draws its authority in the holding of special of events indicates that, in attempt to stop a special events from occurring either because organizers refuse to comply with a request to postpone or relocate events, “police may apply to any judge or a chairman of a Tribunal for an order to prohibit the holding of the special event on the proposed date or at the proposed location.”

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By:citifmnline.com/Ghana

The post Police overreacted in arresting Bernard Mornah – Franklin Cudjoe appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.