Ghana Police Arrest 29 ‘Arise Ghana’ Demonstrators; Organizers To Be charged In Court

The ‘Arise Ghana’ demo was supposed to be peaceful just as it started by getting bloody after the protesters clashed with the Ghana Police Service.

The Ghana Police has revealed that they have arrested 29 Arise Ghana demonstrators in connection with the attack on police officers.

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Earlier on, the protesters alleged that the police attacked them, however, in a twist the police also accused the protesters of attacking the officers who were deployed to protect them during the demo.

In an earlier press statement released by the police, they said demonstrators have injured 12 officers after they attacked when the police tried to stop them from going beyond the agreed terms.

Now, according to the police, the conveners of the protest will be arraigned before court.

In a statement copied to the media, the police said the arrest was as a result of the demonstrators’ involvement in the “violent attack” on police officers.

“The police have arrested 29 demonstrators for their participation in violent attacks on the police and some members of the public, including school children, during the Arise Ghana demonstration in Accra.”

The Ghana Police said it is also investigating videotapes obtained from the bloody clash with the police officers.

According to the police, they won’t hesitate to arrest any person if found guilty.

But, the leaders of the Arise Ghana protesters have blatantly disputed the claims by the police.

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Rex Omar, a member of the Arise Ghana group, speaking at a press conference said, “one of the things we found out later is that a gentleman, who was with the police but had dressed as a demonstrator, was the first to pelt stones at the police, in the bid to instigate a reaction from them.”

He noted that members of the coalition are law-abiding and would not do anything to compromise the peace the country enjoys.

“Our members are very peaceful, we hoped that this would happen in a very cordial manner. We never planned for this. That is why all through, we have engaged the police on reaching a consensus on our demonstration.”

Another member, who is also the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi said the police’s response to the development was only a ploy to discredit the coalition.