The group at the heart of planned demonstrations against illegal mining in Ghana, Democracy Hub, has defended their demonstration exercise as peaceful while launching a scathing attack on the police for harassing protesters.
The group indicated that it took offence to a prior statement by the Ghana Police Service characterizing their behaviour during their demonstration as “unGhanaian, uncivil and unlawful”.
It was the police, the group claimed, who rather “resorted to excessive force and intimidation tactics against peaceful demonstrators”.
It noted in a press statement that the police decision to block roads, divert traffic and deploy a huge personnel presence “caused more inconvenience to the public than the demonstration itself”.
“The actions of the police have been more disruptive than any acts attributed to our movement,” Democracy Hub said.
In the seven-point release, the group also accused the police of liaising with the Deputy National Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to frustrate and subdue their protests.
The group which commenced protests over the weekend told the police is was ever ready to engage them in order that public safety and democratic rights were upheld.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Mitchell Asare Amoamah
