Some respected personalities of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have reacted to the illegal detention of some protesters of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse on the first day of the non-violent demonstration.
These NPP officials condemned the Ghana Police force for detaining 49 demonstrators and subsequently abusing them.
The first of these figures is former president John Agyekum Kufuor, who has restated his steadfast position on the value of democracy, free and fair elections, and human rights in attaining successful leadership and sustaining peace.
The former president emphasized the relevance of upholding these values in the light of the ongoing protests in a tweet seen by 1Family Radio.
“Respect for human rights, democracy, rule of law, coupled with free and fair elections are essential to good governance and development of peace and security everywhere,’’ his tweet read.
The NPP’s director of communications, Richard Ahiagbah, has also weighed in on the ongoing saga.
Although he disagrees with the protest’s disparaging caption, he maintains that the police had no authority to obstruct their fundamental right to peaceful assembly.
“The ability of the people to demonstrate is an inherent democratic right. Therefore, the decision to stand in the way of the citizens’ exercise of this fundamental right is unacceptable .’’
“I don’t agree with the derogatory caption of the presidency by the organizers of the demonstration, but impeding their right to peaceful assembly is an affront to democracy – plain and simple,’’ he wrote.
A Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Akosua Manu, has also slammed the police for their conduct.
She maintains that the police’s illegal detention and mistreatment of these young protesters is not justifiable.
“Injunction or not, the police cannot treat young protestors in this manner. To protest is a right enshrined under the Constitution, and the legitimacy of a protest is not dependent on the cause. IGP Dampare, respectfully establish democratic order and safeguards the right of the protestors,’’ she noted.