The Ghana Police Service has indicated that it would be unable to provide security to members of FixGhanaNow movement should they protest on June 4.This comes after the group on Sunday, May 29, served notice to the Police of their intention to embark on a demonstration on the said date in question.

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According to the Police, in the said notice, group comprising broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as 'Captain Smart', lead convenor for FixTheCountry movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Okatakyie Afrifa and Benjamin Darko, sought to do the following: Embark on a three-day demonstration starting 4th June, 2022. Contract a private security company to provide protection for the demonstrators.

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Contract a private security personnel to be armed with weapons Picket at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the Ghana Police Headquarters Demand to speak directly to the nation on GTV and layout their grievancesIn a press statement dated June 1, the Police explained that the nature and character of the intended demonstration contravenes the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 49).

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The Service therefore has suggested to the Movement that it rescheduled the date for its protest while working with the Police to organise a “lawful, peaceful and successful demonstration.”"We wish to assure the public that in the interest of public safety and security, the Police are putting in place all necessary measures to ensure that unauthorised persons do not march the streets with weapons," the statement added.

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What does PUBLIC ORDER ACT, 1994 ACT 491 say:Section 4 notes that “Where a police officer notified of a special event under subsection (1) has reasonable grounds to believe that the special event if held may lead to violence or endanger public defence, public order, public safety, public health or the running of essential services or violate the rights and freedoms of any other  persons, the police officer may request the organiser to

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postpone the special event to any other date or to relocate the special event.”Per Section 5, an organiser requested to postpone or relocate the holding of a special event shall “within forty-eight hours of the request, notify the police officer in writing of the willingness to comply.

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”Section 6 adds that Where the organiser refuses to comply with the request or fails to notify the police officer, “the police officer may apply to a Justice or the chairman of a Regional Tribunal for an order to prohibit the holding of the special event on the proposed date or at the proposed location.

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<img class="alignnone wp-image-310545 size-full" alt="" width="834" height="1080" /><img class="alignnone wp-image-310547 size-full" alt="" width="834" height="1080" />Source: The Independent Ghana

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