Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (NEIP), has refuted reports claiming that a 62-year-old woman, Naa Densua, was arrested during the recent Democracy Hub demonstration in Accra.
The protest, aimed at addressing economic hardship and governance concerns, witnessed a confrontation between the police and demonstrators, leading to several arrests. However, Mr. Nkansah categorically denied that Naa Densua was among those detained, describing the reports as false and misleading.
Nkansah explained that although several people were arrested for obstructing traffic and participating in unlawful activities, the elderly woman in question was not one of them. He clarified that Naa Densua was instead escorted by the police to secure an Uber ride, ensuring her safety during the unrest.
In a Facebook post on Monday, September 23, Nkansah urged the public and media to verify their information before disseminating such stories, warning that the spread of false claims could inflame tensions between law enforcement and protesters.
“Kindly ignore the false narrative that a 62-year-old woman was arrested during the demonstration,” he stated. “When the protesters started getting violent, the woman was escorted out of the scene. She said she wanted an Uber to her destination, and the police assisted her.”
Meanwhile, Naa Densua, a 62-year-old convener for the #StopGalamseyNow and #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse protests, has recounted her experience with the police during the demonstration at the 37 Intersection in Accra on Sunday, September 22, 2024. She claimed that there was internal conflict among police officers regarding her arrest. While one officer argued she and her granddaughter should not be detained, another took a different stance.
Naa Densua further alleged that a policewoman manhandled both her and her granddaughter while transporting them to a vehicle with other arrested protesters. She called on child advocacy groups and international organizations, such as UNICEF and Save the Children, to intervene, condemning the treatment of her 8-year-old granddaughter, Rose, during the incident.
“We demand that the police release 8-year-old Rose, and ensure that no child is ever again caught in the crossfire of political repression. Let this be the moment that Ghana, and the world, say ‘Enough is enough!'”
“I am calling on all child advocacy groups, both domestic and international. To UNICEF, Save the Children, World Vision, and every organisation that claims to stand for the rights and protection of children – where are you now? We need your voices, your power, and your intervention,” she added.