Ghana’s Police Service has issued a stern warning, stating that participants in the planned street protest against the Bank of Ghana (BoG) will not be permitted to come anywhere near the regulator’s premises. The demonstration, organized by the Minority in Parliament and named #OccupyBOG is scheduled for Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
The Minority’s objective behind this street protest is to address what they perceive as inconsistencies in the national economy under the current administration of the BoG. However, the police have declared the BoG area a security zone, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining security, law, and order during the protest. They have made it clear that the approved route for the protest does not include the BoG premises or the adjacent street.
“The name of the protest does not determine the route of the protest. We have agreed on the routes, and that is the route that will be used,” stated Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Police Service, during a media briefing.
The approved route for the demonstration will begin at the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, pass through Adabraka, Ridge Roundabout, National Theatre Traffic Light, High Court Complex Traffic Light, and Atta Mills Highway. The protestors will then make a U-turn at the National Lotteries and conclude the demonstration at Independence Square.
In addition to adhering to the designated route, protestors have been urged to conduct themselves peacefully, in accordance with the Public Order Act of 1994 (ACT 491). Organizers anticipate that around 5,000 people will participate in the demonstration.
The police have implemented traffic arrangements, including temporary roadblocks. During the demonstration, a section of the road from Independence Square to the Old Parliament Traffic Light will be temporarily closed. Diversion routes will guide traffic through the Starlet Traffic Light, Ministries Traffic Light, and the Office of the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) to National Lotteries. This temporary traffic arrangement will eventually lead back to the John Evans Atta Mills Highway at the Old Parliament Traffic Light intersection.
Personnel from the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) will be stationed at various intersections to assist motorists.
Engagements between the Ghana Police Service and the protest organizers have occurred in preparation for the demonstration.
This development highlights the tension between the right to protest and the need for public safety. While demonstrators seek to make their voices heard, the police are tasked with ensuring order and security. The outcome of this protest will undoubtedly be watched closely by both the public and government officials.
Source: Daily Graphic
