Leaders of Arise-Ghana, the nationalist group which recently led a two-day demonstration over a number of what they described as malaise confronting Ghanaians, including economic hardships, say they have instructed their lawyers to institute legal action against the Ghana Police Service.
Also to be joined in the suit is the government, for the payment of appropriate and adequate compensation to all injured persons during their recent protest against the government over prevailing hardships in the country.
At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, Mr. Bernard Mornah, a leading member of Arise-Ghana said leaders of the group will not rest until all injured persons get justice.
It will be recalled that 12 police officers and dozens of protestors were reported to have been injured on the first day of Arise-Ghana’s protests on June 28, 2022, after the protestors and the police clashed over the routes to be used for the protest march, resulting in the trading of stones, teargas and hot water.
Twenty-nine demonstrators were also arrested for alleged violent attacks on the Police and the public as well as destroying public property.
Arise-Ghana stated the two-day demonstration in Accra was to protest fuel price hikes, the imposition of the tax on electronic transactions, as well as the worsening economic conditions in the country.
Mr. Mornah while addressing the media said members of the group were attacked by the police for no reason, saying “Friends from the media, as you may be aware, several AriseGhana protestors were attacked and brutalised by the Dampare-led Police Service for no justifiable cause on the first day of our historic demonstration held on 28th June, 2022.”
For him, members of the group were brutalised by the police “after the Police had tried without success to frustrate” the demonstration against the government over rising cost of living in the country.
“The Police lawlessly went on to disregard a Notice of Appeal and an Application for Stay of Execution we had filed in respect of that matter all in an effort to frustrate the exercise of our constitutionally guaranteed rights to demonstrate,” he noted.
He added, “As a result of the unprofessional and lawless conduct of the Dampare-led Police, many innocent Ghanaians were injured,” adding that “ninety-three (93) peaceful protesters sustained varying forms of injuries ranging from bone fractures, rubber bullet wounds among others.”