The police have stated that the Minority in Parliament’s planned protest and picketing around the Bank of Ghana (BoG) headquarters could potentially pose risks to public order, safety, and essential services.
In response to the opposition MPs’ intention to stage a demonstration demanding the resignation of BoG Governor, Ernest Addison and his deputies over allegations of fiscal mismanagement, the police have suggested an alteration in the protest route.
The Accra regional police commander, Sayibu Pabi Gariba, stated in a notice to the organizers that, “The Bank of Ghana is a security installation, and accordingly the protest and picketing around the installation may endanger public order, public safety, and the running of essential services.”
The police expressed concerns about the chosen route, pointing out that the area from Makola through Rawlings Park and Opera Square is typically congested with human and vehicular traffic.
“The Bank of Ghana is a security installation, and accordingly the protest and picketing around the installation may endanger public order, public safety and the running of essential services,” Sayibu Pabi Gariba, the Accra regional police commander, said in a notice to the organisers.
“That the route from Makola through Rawlings Park and Opera Square are always overcrowded and over populated due to human and vehicular traffic,” the notice continued. “Thus, considering the nature of activities during the day, security can easily be compromised. In that regard, using such route may lead to violence.”
“As requested today during our engagement, the command wishes to reiterate that you relocate the route and the destination for the picketing and therefore propose in the interest of public order, public safety among others that you commence the protest from the frontage of Parliament House through Osu Cemetery Traffic Light and terminate at the Independence Square,” Gariba said.
This congestion could potentially compromise security and lead to violence, according to the police notice.
As a safer alternative, the police recommended that the protest route be changed to begin from the frontage of Parliament House, proceed through Osu Cemetery Traffic Light, and culminate at Independence Square.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a 21-day ultimatum for the governor and his deputies to step down, accusing them of mismanaging the economy. If the governor does not comply by September 5, the Minority MPs have pledged to picket at the central bank’s headquarters.
This call for action has garnered support from various quarters, including the pressure group AriseGhana. Comrade Rex Omar, the convener of AriseGhana, highlighted concerns over the alleged mismanagement of funds by the Bank of Ghana in their 2022 Report and financial statements. He specifically criticized the unauthorized printing of money to finance government activities, emphasizing the need for accountability and condemning such actions.
It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold, given the opposition’s determination to demonstrate and the police’s insistence on altering the protest route due to security concerns.