By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Starr FmStarr FmStarr Fm
  • Home
  • Election Hub
  • General
    GeneralShow More
    “Omane Boamah hated helicopters; it was his first time” – Muntaka
    August 11, 2025
    E/R: Poor visibility forces another helicopter to make emergency landing in Nkawkaw
    August 11, 2025
    Helicopter crash: Gov’t calls for public tributes for victims ahead of State funeral
    August 11, 2025
    E/R: 22-year-old man remanded for robbing, raping nurse in Koforidua
    August 11, 2025
    Helicopter crash: Allow bereaved families space to mourn – Psychologist
    August 11, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Ometsey to feature at the Africa Fashion Week London 2025
    August 9, 2025
    Finance Ministry seeks public input for 2026–2029 national budget
    August 8, 2025
    Hollard Ghana’s Wahab Adams Wins Unsung Hero Award at 2025 Insurance Awards
    August 8, 2025
    ‘You have 30 days to justify higher fees or risk licence suspension’ – NCA to DStv
    August 7, 2025
    Sammi Awuku warns of looming national crisis as NIA-GRA Feud escalates
    August 6, 2025
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Sam George delivers family tribute to late Defence Minister Omane Boamah at memorial service
    Helicopter crash: Sam George shares emotional family tribute to Omane Boamah
    August 9, 2025
    Vice President calls for unity and sobriety in honour of helicopter crash victims
    August 9, 2025
    I’m deeply saddened- Awentami Paul Afoko mourns victims of helicopter crash
    August 9, 2025
    Finance Ministry seeks public input for 2026–2029 national budget
    August 8, 2025
    Helicopter crash: ‘This isn’t time for division, political-point scoring’ – Mahama
    August 8, 2025
  • Entertainment
    EntertainmentShow More
    “Our vacations are too short” – Children spark conversation on popular show
    August 6, 2025
    Daddy Lumba’s family sets Aug 30 for one-week observance in Accra
    August 6, 2025
    EOCO seizes Shatta Wale’s Lamborghini over links to US fraud case
    August 5, 2025
    WATCH: 10-year-old girls present and debate presidential manifestos
    July 31, 2025
    GHAT Fair 2025 kicks off to boost investment, innovation in transport
    July 28, 2025
  • Sports
    SportsShow More
    Ghana Cricket Association swings into action
    August 9, 2025
    Accra Sports Stadium to host GHALCA Top 4 Tournament – Chairman confirms
    August 7, 2025
    Black Queens slip to 67th in latest FIFA rankings despite WAFCON bronze
    August 7, 2025
    Ghana wins 5 golds, 1 silver at All-African U-15 Badminton Championships
    August 6, 2025
    Thierry Henry announced as a Betway Global Ambassador
    August 5, 2025
  • Technology
    TechnologyShow More
    Chowdeck announces exclusive partnership with Oseikrom Aduanipa, elevating food delivery in Ghana
    August 7, 2025
    Sam Georges directs NCA to Revoke DSTV licence by Aug 7 over high subscription Fees
    Suspend DSTV licence by Aug 7 over high subscription fees – Sam George to NCA
    August 1, 2025
    Don’t Get Left Behind: Lord Ibrahim Sani Urges Entrepreneurs to Catch Up with AI
    July 31, 2025
    Why cloud technology is a game-changer for Ghana’s small businesses
    July 31, 2025
    Fantana praises launch of the Ghana’s Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System
    July 29, 2025
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    Osei Boateng, Founder & Executive Director, OKB Hope Foundation, announced
    August 6, 2025
    Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu signs MoUs with GEICO and CMS Group for new public universities
    Education Minister signs MoUs with GEICO, CMS Group to establish two public universities
    July 15, 2025
    Presidency terminates Zoomlion’s contract over concerns of impropriety and inflated billing
    Mahama pushes AU–CARICOM partnership to strengthen global reparations push
    July 14, 2025
    47th AU Forum: Ablakwa criticizes $1.2m AfCFTA allocation as ‘highly insufficient’
    July 10, 2025
    Minority demands audit over $1.2m passport relaunch cost and delays
    July 9, 2025
  • Factometer
Search
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Law students petition CHRAJ over Police brutalities
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Starr FmStarr Fm
Font ResizerAa
  • Headlines
  • Election Hub
  • General
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Factometer
Search
  • Headlines
  • Election Hub
  • General
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Factometer
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
GeneralHeadlines

Law students petition CHRAJ over Police brutalities

Kwame Acheampong By Kwame Acheampong Published October 14, 2019
Share
There was chaos when the law students clashed with the Police on their demonstration in October
SHARE

The students Representative Council of the Ghana School of Law has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate what they describe as police brutalities during their march for reforms at the law school last week.

According to the students, the police were abusive in their engagement with them.

In a petition Monday, the Council said: “We are therefore petitioning CHRAJ to 1. Investigate the actions of the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers in respect of the events of Monday, October 7, 2019 and determine to what extent those actions constitute (i) abuse of power and (ii) violations of the rights and freedoms of law students who embarked on a lawful and peaceful demonstration.

“2. Initiate or cause to be initiated disciplinary proceedings and criminal prosecution against any police officer or persons found culpable; 3. Take any other appropriate actions consequent upon these investigations; pursuant to the Commission’s powers under Article 218 (a), (b) and (d) of the 1992 Constitution and Sections 7(a), (b,) (d) and 9 of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act, 1993 (Act 456)”.

The students stormed the streets after a second year of mass failure was registered during entrance exams at the law school.

This year, only 128 students out of over 1,200  who sat for the exams passed.

Below are details of the petition:

We the undersigned, on this 14th day of October, 2019 write to petition the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the abuse of power and human rights abuses perpetrated by officers of the Ghana Police Service under the command of the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim, during a lawful and peaceful demonstration embarked upon by law students in Accra in protest of the poor handling of legal education in this country.

Account of events 1. On September 27, 2019, the National Association of Law Students wrote to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, notifying them of our intention to embark on a lawful and peaceful demonstration on Monday, October 7, 2019, as required by Section 1 of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491).

  1. The route for the lawful and peaceful demonstration was indicated in the letter thus: (i) the John Evans Atta Mills High Street (Law Court complex area); to (ii) the Independence Avenue (National Theatre area); and then to (iii) the Liberation Crescent (Jubilee House) where we had arranged to present a petition to the President of the Republic at the Jubilee House.
  2. The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers invited representatives of the association to a meeting on Wednesday October 2, 2019 which we attended. 2 4. At the meeting, the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his deputies indicated that we could not embark upon the planned lawful and peaceful demonstration on chosen date of Monday, October 7, 2019 because in their estimation, Monday was not conducive to a lawful and peaceful demonstration.

 

  1. Another meeting was proposed by the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his deputies for Monday, October 7, 2019 (the date of our planned lawful and peaceful demonstration). The purpose of this proposed meeting was to continue discussions on the ‘appropriate’ date to embark on our lawful and peaceful demonstration. We were dissatisfied with this proposal.
  2. We wrote back to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command on Friday, October 4, 2019 indicating that any shift from our proposed date would be unfavourable to the student body since logistics had been procured. Students were also travelling from different parts of the country to join us in Accra for the lawful and peaceful demonstration. We also indicated that it was a peaceful march and since we had complied with the legal requirements we would go ahead with our lawful and peaceful demonstration on Monday, October 7, 2019 as planned. 7. On Monday, October 7, 2019, law students converged at the forecourt of the Ghana School of Law, Makola campus and proceeded with the lawful and peaceful demonstration without any police escort. The demonstration continued peacefully without any incident. 8. At the Ako Adjei interchange, we were met by the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers who were armed to the teeth. The police were in full riot gear. They had armoured vehicles, tear gas, water cannons, amongst others. 9. The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers insisted they could not allow us to proceed to the Jubilee House to present our petition to the Presidency as indicated in our letter to the police. 10. Our leaders tried negotiating with the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers to at least allow a few persons to proceed to the Jubilee House to present our petition but the police refused. 11. Suddenly, the police, without provocation and acting on the orders of the Greater Accra Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim, fired rubber bullets at the students; sprayed the students with water from their water cannons and fired tear gas to disperse the students.

 

3 12. The police started chasing students with their water cannons and sprayed more water on students while simultaneously firing tear gas. Students had to run from the Afrikiko area all the way to the Canadian High Commission to seek protection from the police brutality. The police continued to spray students with much more water even after students had moved away from the Jubilee House area and converged peacefully in front of the Canadian High Commission.

 

  1. A Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr. Abu Jinapor, who was on his way to the Jubilee House witnessed this unlawful and excessive use of force by the police against defenceless law-abiding citizens. He told the police to allow us to proceed to the Jubilee House and present our petition but the police ignored his plea. 14. Some students sustained various degrees of injury from the rubber bullets fired by the police. Some had to be rushed to the hospital for immediate medical treatment. The use of tear gas by the police also triggered one female student’s asthmatic attack. Some journalists were also injured in the process. 15. About 13 students including the SRC President of the Ghana School of Law, Mr. Jonathan Alua, were violently arrested by the police and detained for more than 6 hours without any formal charge. Section 7 of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act, 1993 (Act 456) provides that (1) In accordance with Article 218 of the Constitution, the functions of the Commission are (a) to investigate complaints of violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, injustice, corruption, abuse of power and unfair treatment of a person by a public officer in the exercise of official duties; We are by this petition, making a formal complaint to CHRAJ that, 1.

 

The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers infringed on the rights of law students to freely assemble and take part in processions and demonstrations—a right conferred on us by Article 21(1)(d) of the 1992 Constitution—when they sought to prevent and indeed prevented us from embarking and completing our demonstration on Monday October 7, 2019 despite our compliance with the requirements of the Public Order Act 1994 (Act 491).

2. The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers denied us the enjoyment of our Article 14(2) rights when they violently arrested 4 about 13 students on Monday, October 7, 2019 and detained them for over 6 hours without any formal charge(s); 3. The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers, in breach of Article 15(1) and (2)(a)(b) of the 1992 Constitution, subjected us to cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment when they tortured us with tear gas, water cannons and rubber pellets on Monday, October 7, 2019 resulting in some students sustaining various degrees of injury; some of which were nearly fatal. 4. That the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers failed in the exercise of their duty to protect citizens when they abdicated their responsibility to escort us on Monday, October 7, 2019 during the peaceful march.

We are therefore petitioning CHRAJ to 1. Investigate the actions of the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Frederick Adu Anim and his officers in respect of the events of Monday, October 7, 2019 and determine to what extent those actions constitute (i) abuse of power and (ii) violations of the rights and freedoms of law students who embarked on a lawful and peaceful demonstration 2. Initiate or cause to be initiated disciplinary proceedings and criminal prosecution against any police officer or persons found culpable; 3. Take any other appropriate actions consequent upon these investigations; pursuant to the Commission’s powers under Article 218 (a), (b) and (d) of the 1992 Constitution and Sections 7(a), (b,) (d) and 9 of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act, 1993 (Act 456), We have attached to this petition all the necessary documentation and evidence which might help CHRAJ in its investigations. We are also available to assist with these investigations when called upon

 

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM

 

 

 

 

 

 

You Might Also Like

“Omane Boamah hated helicopters; it was his first time” – Muntaka

E/R: Poor visibility forces another helicopter to make emergency landing in Nkawkaw

Helicopter crash: Gov’t calls for public tributes for victims ahead of State funeral

E/R: 22-year-old man remanded for robbing, raping nurse in Koforidua

Helicopter crash: Allow bereaved families space to mourn – Psychologist

TAGGED:lawschoolSTUDENTS
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Share
Previous Article China president Xi Jinping Hong Kong protests: President Xi warns of ‘bodies smashed’
Next Article But what’s wrong with self love?

Starr 103.5FM

Starr FmStarr Fm
Follow US
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
newsletter icon
Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest in news, podcasts etc..

[mc4wp_form]
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?