Ghanaian journalist, Bridget Otoo has criticized the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo Dampare, labeling him as “an actor” and “a liar.”
Her remarks stem from a police statement issued over the weekend, which claimed that there was no evidence of assaults during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests.
Otoo, who was involved in an altercation at the Accra Regional Headquarters during the protests, vehemently disagreed with the IGP’s assertion that the illegal arrests of protesters on September 21, 2023, happened without his knowledge.
“It’s a lie, it is a palpable lie. The IGP appeared before the Committee (leaked tape probe) and said he wanted the Ghana Police PR to match international standard, meaning if communication is going to come out of the service, it will be under his supervision, sanctioned at the head office.
“So, assuming that what happened, he wasn’t aware, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, he is such a good actor and a liar. I have fallen for it but not anymore.
“Assuming that he did not know about it, what prevented him from putting it in his statement,” she quizzed.
Bridget Otoo pointed out that during a previous committee hearing on a leaked tape probe, the IGP had expressed a desire for the Ghana Police Public Relations to meet international standards.
This, in her view, meant that all official communication from the police should be supervised and sanctioned by the head office.
She further questioned why, if the IGP was unaware of the events, he did not include this information in his official statement.
Otoo listed instances of assault on a BBC reporter, an assault on a Metro TV journalist, and her own encounter as widely known cases of police brutality.
Yet, the police statement claimed there were no such assaults.
Bridget Otoo made these remarks during a post-protest analysis segment on Joy News on September 24.
During the three-day protests, on September 23, demonstrators attempted to breach a police barricade late into the night and march toward the presidency, despite the illegal arrests and police heavy-handedness that occurred on Day 1.
On that day, 49 protesters were arrested and held for hours on charges of unlawful assembly before being released on bail.
Days 2 and 3 saw police blocking the main road leading to the presidency, Jubilee House, even before the protesters commenced their march.
While Day 2 involved the closure of one side of the 37-Accra Road, the final day saw both sides blocked, causing significant traffic disruptions for most of the day.