We�ll Demonstrate Without Police Protection

Pressure group, Concerned Ghanaians has called the bluff of the Ghana Police Service over the latter’s decision to stop their planned street protest on March 6 – Ghana’s Independence Day.

The group announced over a week ago that it would embark on the demonstration to express their anger over the current energy crisis. 

But the Police turned down their request with the explanation that a lot of its resources and personnel will be channeled towards the successful organisation of the Independence Day parade.

However, a statement from the Concerned Ghanaians, signed by Atick Yakubu and Ofei Dei Goodfellow said they will proceed with their demonstration even without Police protection.

The decision, according to them, was arrived at after “a careful and exhaustive consultation with the leadership and members.”

They argued that there was no better date than March 6 to “exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to protest.”

“This is because the date is too significant to us and the good people of this country who have been plunged into deep hardship and discomfort as a result of the energy crisis,” the statement explained.

They stressed that their March 6 demonstration will be a peaceful march which will be embarked on by Ghanaians and as such, “it does not require full battle gear to Police it. That is if the Police choose to do so.”

The group expressed the hope that the Police administration will cooperate with them as they embark on this “all-important but very peaceful demonstration.”

They also encouraged well-meaning citizens to join them to protest against the government’s seeming ineffectiveness to solve the nation’s problems.