<<Print>>

The Tema circuit court on Thursday thwarted an attempt by the Tema Police Command on Thursday to restrain the Tema District Council of Labour (TDCL) from embarking on a demonstration against the utility tariffs hike. Leaders of the TDCL were on Wednesday served with a court suit filed by the Police to place an injunction on the demonstration due to their failure to heed to the Tema Regional Police Command�s advice to postpone it but the court rule against their desire. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Maxwell Atingane, Tema Regional Police Commander, told the Ghana News Agency that his outfit had a meeting with the leadership of the TDCL and advised them to postpone the demonstration due to the Command�s inability to provide them with the needed protection. He said since the Police could only advice but cannot stop them from embarking on such protestation, they resorted to the court to restrain them. Mr Wilson Agana, TDCL Chairman, said even though the Police advised them to postpone the demonstration, the notice was too short and therefore it would not have been impossible to tell members to stay at home. According to him, letters were sent to employers to release their workers for the demonstration therefore, notice of cancellation must also be sent through the same channel. Prior to the court ruling, police personnel numbering about 100 had prevented the demonstrators from embarking on their intended protestation. The personnel, who were wearing helmets, bulletproof vest, and carrying truncheons and guns, barricaded some principal streets in Tema city centre.