The Supreme Court has set June 8 for hearing in the case between conveners of the social media protest #FIXTHECOUNTRY and the police over their planned street protest.
The Police Service on Thursday secured a court order to stop the planned protest scheduled for Sunday, May 9, 2021.
The High Court presided by Justice Ruby Aryeetey issued a Restraining Order against conveners until the restriction on public gathering is lifted.
The convenors of the filed a write to challenge the court order at the Supreme Court but the apex court has set June 8 for hearing – a month away from the planned schedule for the protest.
In a statement on the Supreme court action, the group said “It was our hope that in view of the urgency of the matter, and having regard to the grave injustice caused, that extraordinary measures will be taken to expedite the hearing of the matter, to enable us to proceed with the protest on Sunday, May 9th.
“However, we have just received news that the Supreme Court has fixed the hearing for 8th June 2021. We are naturally disappointed by this decision, but we continue to place our faith in the Courts. As a result, we shall at the earliest opportunity file an application for abridgement time, with the hope that the Court will hear the matter at an earlier date”.
Below are details of a statement by the group
Here is the full statement from the group
As you may have heard, yesterday the 6th of May 2021 the Ghana Police Service obtained an order prohibiting us from exercising our rights under the 1992 Constitution to embark on the planned May 9 Protest.
The order was granted to the Police despite an existing decision by a Judge of the Court of Appeal saying that the Police cannot seek nor obtain an order to prohibit a protest without notifying the organizers.
Earlier today, our lawyers working through the night, filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to set aside the defective order made by the High Court Judge. It was our hope that in view of the urgency of the matter, and having regard to the grave injustice caused, that extraordinary measures will be taken to expedite the hearing of the matter, to enable us to proceed with the protest on Sunday, May 9th.
However, we have just received news that the Supreme Court has fixed the hearing for 8th June 2021. We are naturally disappointed by this decision, but we continue to place our faith in the Courts. As a result, we shall at the earliest opportunity file an application for abridgement time, with the hope that the Court will hear the matter at an earlier date.
We shall update you in a few hours on our next cause of action regarding the protest.
We assure you all that we will not relent, retreat nor surrender.
Keep up the Faith and the Fight!
#FixTheCountry!
The Convenors »
