We’ll Know Whether Those Who Threw The Stones Are Police Officers During Prosecution – Information Minister

Information Minister and member of parliament for the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency,  Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said that those who threw stones during the demonstration by Arise Ghana pressure group were all captured on tape hence, it will make it easier for identification for arrest and prosecution.

It is during prosecution in court that it will be determined whether these persons are Police officers as is being claimed by organizers of the demonstration, the Ofoase Ayirebi lawmaker said.

“When they are arrested and put before the court we will find out whether they are Police or not,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said on the Good Evening Ghana show Tuesday, June 28.

He further said the Police should be commended for the high level of professionalism they exhibited during the demonstration.

“First, we should commend the Policemen and women for their professionalism. The IGP was very clear that [the demonstrators] are supposed to be your brothers and sisters, treat them with decorum, assist them to exercise their constitutional right under Article 21(1)(d) which gives you the right to join an assembly to protest to as you please.

“Even when they were attacked by these persons, though they had a superior force that they could use even in their own defence , in compliance with the instruction of their superior they still kept their calm and did their best to control the situation.

“There is an obvious attempt to create instability in our country at this time, we don’t need to mince words about it. There is a trajectory, first, there was a group that wanted to demonstrate with weapons, then there was this group that said they wanted to demonstrate throughout the night till the following morning. The Police raised obvious security questions against that.

“This is even daytime, broad daylight at Obra Spot here at Accra, you have people attacking Police in this manner, can you imagine what could have happened at night if some of these things were allowed to continue throughout the night,” he said.

 

Attack on Police in the Ongoing Arise Ghana Demonstration

What a shame, we were there to protect you and ensure your safety, but you throw stones at us, injure and hurt us.

This behaviour is unacceptable and must be condemned. pic.twitter.com/8FGeycExJD

— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) June 28, 2022

 

 

The Police announced that 12 officers have been injured during the demonstration by members of the Arise Ghana pressure group on Tuesday, June 28.

 

Police Update: Twenty-Nine(29) Demonstrators Arrested, Others being Pursued

The Police have arrested 29 demonstrators for their participation in violent attacks on the Police and some members of the public including school children during the Arise Ghana demonstration in Accra. pic.twitter.com/mzlEOMcCVx

— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) June 28, 2022

 

 

Arise Ghana Demonstrators Attack Police: 12 Officers Injured, Police Vehicles Damaged

Watch more from the attached link:https://t.co/CqHuS7wXBX pic.twitter.com/MlBSsVMMt3

— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) June 28, 2022

 

 

 

The injured officers have been transferred to the Police hospital in Accra for further treatment.

“Some Police vehicles have also been damaged,” the Police said in a statement.

The Police further described the development as shameful.

“What a shame, we were there to protect you and ensure your safety, but you throw stones at us, injure and hurt us. This behaviour is unacceptable and must be condemned.”

But a leader of the group, Sammy Gyamfi dismissed claims that members threw stones at the Police during the demonstration.

He described the persons who exhibited that conduct as agent provocateurs who were planted in their midst by the Police.

They are agent provocateurs planted in their midst by the Police, these are not members of the Arise Ghana. We arrested them and gave them to the Police.

“We did not go there with sticks, we did not go there with stones, we went there with our voice to protest against the obnoxious e-levy which amounts to thievery.

 

An average of 250 protestors “arose” for the demo today. Scores of them decided to pelt the police with stones, bricks,etc. injuring them. Thankfully, the police would not be provoked and remained professional. I am not sure if this is what the organizers intended. Shameful! pic.twitter.com/3ssuDB8lCS

— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) June 28, 2022

 

 

 

He added “our hands are clean, our conscience are clean, we believe in what we are doing.”

Sammy Gyamfi further accused the Police of embarking on Public Relations (PR) gimmick to brand the demonstrators as violent citizens.

“If you look at the statement being issued by the Police on their social media handles, you can clearly see through the PR gimmicks being mounted by the Police.

“PR gimmick intended to brand Arise Ghana as violent citizens of this country. They described us as rioting demonstrators. No one who intends to embark on a riot will give the Police 20 days’ notice to embark on a riot,” the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source:  3news