The Ghana Police Service says 12
police officers sustained various degrees of injuries on Tuesday when they were
pelted with stones by demonstrators organised by Arise Ghana.
According to the police, the injured were initially treated in
Police Mobile Hospitals and have since been transferred to the Police Hospital
for further treatment.
In a statement issued by the police, the security agency said some
police vehicles were damaged.
The police said the clash resulted from the refusal of the
demonstrators to use court approved routes for the protest, while the police
resisted the detour.
Arise Ghana is leading a two-day demonstration Tuesday and
Wednesday to protest economic hardships in the country.
What do the
demonstrators want?
Arise Ghana says the two-day demonstration will seek to;
- "Protest against
persistent and astronomical hikes in fuel prices by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia
government that has imposed excruciating economic hardships on Ghanaians.
- "Protest against the
imposition of the obnoxious E-Levy on the already-burdened Ghanaian people
by the insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and demand for its
immediate repeal.
- "Demand a full scale and
bi-partisan parliamentary probe into COVID-19 expenditures.
- "Protest against the
grabbing of State lands by officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government,
particularly the de-classification of huge portions of the Achimota Forest
reserve.
- "Protest against the
increased rate of police brutalities and state-sponsored killing of
innocent Ghanaians, as well as the growing culture of human rights abuses
under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
- "Demand the total
cancelation of the fraudulent “Agyapa” deal."
Below is the police statement
in full
ARISE GHANA
DEMONSTRATORS ATTACK POLICE: 12 OFFICERS INJURED, POLICE VEHICLES DAMAGED
- The demonstration by the Arise
Ghana group commenced with demonstrators gathering at the Obra spot
at about 8 am.
- Contrary to the court orders,
the organisers insisted on using routes leading to the Jubilee House. All
attempts to persuade them to comply with the court-approved routes did not
yield the expected results.
- Unfortunately and without any
provocation, the demonstrators began pelting the police with stones.
- So far, 12 Police officers who
sustained various degrees of injuries and were treated in the Police
Mobile Hospitals have been transferred to the Police Hospital for further
treatment. Some police vehicles have also been damaged.
- The demonstrators further
regrouped and burnt tires on the road around Circle. The fire from the
burning tires has since been put out by the police.
- The Police, therefore, had no
option but to use tear gas and water cannons to subdue the rioting and
restore order. The process is still ongoing.
- The road has partially been
cleared and we urge all road users to continue to bear with us and use
alternative routes where possible as we take steps to fully disperse the
rioting demonstrators.
- We wish to assure the public
that all those involved in this violent demonstration will be brought to
face justice.
GRACE ANSAH-AKROFI
CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF
POLICE
DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS