The Head of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abraham Amaliba, has argued that the individuals who should be brought to court in connection with the #OccupyJulorBiHouse protest are the police officers who mistreated the protestors.
In response to reports of some protestors facing legal action after being unlawfully arrested by the police on the first day of the three-day civic action, the NDC lawyer asserted that instead of innocent citizens who were merely exercising their constitutional rights, it should be the police officers who are prosecuted.
Speaking to the media on September 22, 2023, he stated “today, I’m being told that some of the demonstrators will be sent to court. Those who should be in court this morning are the policemen who attacked innocent Ghanaians, who attacked lawyers, and not the demonstrators who were simply out there to do what the constitution allows them to do.”
Amaliba also questioned why the Ghana Police Service sought legal action when it believed it had the authority to prevent the demonstration in the first place.
He pointed out that going to court signifies that a dispute has been submitted to the court for resolution, and the police’s actions have contradicted this.
“If the police knew that they could stop this demonstration anyway, why did they head to court? If you go to court, what it means is that you have submitted the dispute to court and the court must settle that dispute.
“And so, you don’t go to turn, and turn around and use brute force as if we are in the colonial period,” he added.
After a tense first day of the planned three-day protest against the government by the #OccupyJulorBiHouse demonstrators, the group has proceeded with their second day.
In a statement signed by the organizers of #FixTheCountry, a significant component of the protest’s leadership, they called on people to join and support them despite the events of the first day.
They expressed gratitude to all the professionals who came out to support them, including lawyers and journalists, while condemning the police’s assaults on the peaceful protestors during the first day.
The Democracy Hub, led by a group of young activists, initiated the protest, which aims to picket the government’s headquarters from Thursday, September 21, to Saturday, September 23, 2023. They are demanding action from the President and the Economic Management Team to address economic mismanagement and corruption allegations within the government.