A member of the Democracy Hub pressure group’s Communications Team has announced their intention to organize further street protests.
Solomon Wise made this known during an interview with the media on Monday, September 25, just two days after participating in a three-day demonstration known as #OccupyJulorbiHouse.
He stated, “We are going back,” indicating their intention to continue their protests.
“We are going back, we are not giving them rest,” he added, though it is unclear whether he was referring to authorities in power or the police.
Solomon Wise criticized the police for their handling of protesters during the initial day of the protest on Thursday, September 21. He described the police response as problematic and called for a review of the police curriculum used for handling demonstrations.
Wise also recounted being taken into custody and stated that they were asked to strip naked, which they resisted.
He criticized the police for allegedly acting on the orders of their superiors and politicians rather than using their own judgment and intelligence.
“When you watch the way they handled us from Thursday up till Saturday, especially on the day of Thursday, the Day of Shame, for me, I would like to advocate the police curriculum that is used to train the police at demo should be really looked at,” he demanded.
During the protest, there were moments of relative success on Friday and Saturday, as the protesters were allowed to march toward the government’s headquarters, albeit with certain restrictions.
“We demanded that we are not going to remove our dresses, so the police were actually acting on the whims and caprices of their superiors and superiors also are acting on the whims and caprices of politicians and the police is not reasoning on their intelligence no more.”
He emphasised: “And at that state, we see the police as enemy of the state because they are no more using any intelligence to work with.”
However, tensions flared on Saturday as confrontations with the police escalated. The protest was eventually addressed by Convenor Oliver Barker-Vormawor.
Solomon Wise also disclosed that his phone was allegedly stolen by the police during the course of the protest.
During the protest, there were moments of relative success on both Friday and Saturday, with the protesters being permitted to march from their assembly point at the 37 Lorry Station toward the government’s headquarters. However, their progress was halted in front of the 37 Military Hospital.
On Saturday, there was a tense situation as the protesters faced attempts to encircle and contain them, which escalated tensions and nearly led to chaos.
The protesters ultimately remained at the Akuafo Intersection until they were addressed by the Convenor of the protest, Oliver Barker-Vormawor.