The Ghana Police Service has warned the public not to participate in any call for demonstration by convenors of the #FixTheCountry movement.
The Police in a statement said the planned protest is not in compliance with provisions of the Public Order Act adding that the substantive is still pending at the High Court.
The statement by the Police comes after a five-member panel of the Supreme Court has said there is “no subsisting order” preventing #fixtheCountry protesters to apply for demonstration.
The Supreme court in its ruling said the indefinite order that stops the applicants from demonstrating is quashed. The court added that the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction when it gave that definite order restricting the applicants from demonstrating.
But the Police in its statement said “The substantive case between the police and the conveners on the right to demonstrate is still pending at the High Court (Criminal Division 1) Accra, and slated for hearing on Monday, June 14, 2021.”
The Ghana Police Service on May 6, 2021, obtained an injunction from the High Court on the basis of the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 as the reason to block the #FixTheCountry activists.
The order secured by the police said: “It is hereby ordered that the organizers/conveners of FixTheCountry protest march, their associates, officers, agents, assigns, and workmen are prohibited from embarking on any demonstration on Sunday, 9th May 2021, or any other date until the restriction on public gatherings is lifted by the appropriate authority,”.
However, the activists proceeded to court to contest the injunction and moved to the Supreme Court to get their case for the injunction to be quashed.
The apex court of the land after listening to arguments from both sides on June 8, 2021, set aside the injunction, allowing the activists to embark on the protest.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
