Police presence ramped up this Thursday morning near Jubilee House, Ghana’s presidential residence, as authorities braced for a protest they eventually disrupted.
According to a report by Graphic Online, Democracy Hub, an Accra-based civil society group, organized the demonstration to demand government accountability and oppose military action in Niger.
By 6 am, an augmented force of officers had assembled outside the Jubilee House, intensifying the usual law enforcement detail in the vicinity. Initially, the demonstrators aimed to gather at the 37 Military Hospital bus station and march towards the presidential residence.
However, police action effectively suppressed the protest before it could gain momentum. Less than 50 protesters were arrested and dispersed to various police stations around Accra. Law enforcement maintained its robust presence at the bus station until 10 a.m., detaining anyone dressed in protest colors of black or red.
The Ghana Police Service had previously moved against the planned demonstration, issuing a statement on Wednesday that they had filed for an injunction at the High Court in Accra. The court documents served to Democracy Hub cover the period from September 21 to 23.
The civil society group chose to stage their protest on Nkrumah Memorial Day, a significant date highlighting Ghana’s historical fight against oppression and exploitation. Democracy Hub said they organized the demonstration to criticize economic mismanagement and theft at the highest levels of government.
In their statement on Wednesday, police warned the public to avoid the protest, stating, “We urge the public to note and disregard any calls from individuals or groups encouraging them to assemble for a demonstration at Jubilee House.”
Despite the injunction application, Democracy Hub remains steadfast in its commitment to protest. The group expressed frustration at what it views as politically motivated police efforts to disrupt peaceful democratic mobilization. In a public release, the organization encouraged citizens to gather at the 37 Military Hospital bus station, defiantly stating that their protest would proceed.
As Ghana navigates this tense intersection of free expression and public order, the eyes of the nation—and potentially the international community—focus on how authorities and civil society groups negotiate their contested spaces.
Source: The Graphic Online
