Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a key leader of the Democracy Hub protest, has been taken into custody.
His arrest, made yesterday, follows allegations of unlawful acts during the group’s demonstrations on September 21-22, 2024, at the 37 Intersection in Accra.
Prior to his arrest, the police had issued a statement declaring Barker-Vormawor wanted. However, he responded through Facebook, denying he was in hiding and dismissing the allegations as “baseless and misleading.”
His arrest brings to 43 the number of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters arrested by the police for engaging in unlawful acts during the protest.
Violent clashes erupted in Accra on Sunday, September 22, between Democracy Hub protesters and the police at the 37 Intersection, resulting in the arrest of 42 demonstrators, including organisers of the event.
The protests turned chaotic, with footage showing physical altercations between protesters and police, barricades being pushed down, and personnel being attacked.
The police warned the organisers, describing their actions as “unGhanaian, uncivil, and unlawful.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor was seen in videos pushing down police barricades and removing a key from a police vehicle.
Despite police attempts to arrest him, Barker-Vormawor fled the scene.
The demonstration, initially intended as a lawful expression of dissent, quickly escalated into violence and disruption.
The police had warned the protesters to avoid the busy intersection, citing severe inconvenience to the public, including commuters stuck in traffic, delayed medical care, and disrupted cultural and commercial activities.
Despite this, protesters pushed down police barricades and clashed with officers.
In a statement, the police emphasised their commitment to maintaining law and order, proposing seven alternative locations for the protest and offering security assurances if demonstrators complied.
However, the protesters defied these warnings, prompting police to take action.
“We cannot allow protesters to disrupt the daily lives of innocent citizens,” said a police spokesperson, adding, “We will use all lawful means necessary to ensure public safety and prevent undue inconvenience.”
Police Professionalism Commended
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has praised the police for their professional handling of the demonstration.
According to him, the professionalism shown by the law enforcers during the demonstration is a breath of fresh air, marking a significant step forward in protecting the constitutional right to free expression.
He asserted that the police’s tolerance towards the demonstrators marks a significant shift from their past reliance on brute force to maintain law and order during protests.
The MFWA boss said this newfound approach demonstrates a more nuanced and restrained policing strategy, one that prioritises de-escalation and respect for democratic rights.
He added that this evolution in policing, which is crucial in maintaining public trust and upholding the principles of democracy, has carved a positive image for the country and its democratic credentials.
“It is gratifying to see our Police Service exercise such restraint while enforcing the law in the face of what appeared like a deliberate attempt to provoke them.
“This show of rare professionalism in policing certainly helps to deepen the growth of our democracy under this IGP, and I will encourage him to continue with his exemplary leadership,” he intimated.
Mr. Braimah praised IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare’s team for their composure during the protest, saying that despite provocative acts, such as taking away police vehicle keys, that could have led to fatal consequences, IGP Dampare’s team expertly avoided escalation while upholding the law.
“I am not surprised to see a lot of people commending the police for the professional handling of the demonstrations. Dr. [Akuffo] Dampare has given us a reason to be hopeful in the future,” he noted.
The former Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has also joined the bandwagon, showering praises on the Inspector-General of Police and the service for their professionalism displayed during the Democracy Hub protest.
According to him, the police’s crisis management approach was superb, noting that they handled violent demonstrators without reciprocating violence, a significant departure from past tactics.
Mr. Jacobs told the media that the Democracy Hub was sponsored by the NDC to create chaos ahead of the December 7 elections.
He claimed that as a former organiser of similar demonstrations, he knew the opposition’s strategy was to gain support from civil society organisations and tarnish the current government’s image.
Allotey Jacobs lauded the police for their calm handling of the situation and expressed relief that they did not retaliate.
He also echoed calls for IGP Dampare’s retention, citing the need for an independent police service.
“Ghana needs an independent IGP and police service,” Allotey Jacobs said. “If the police boss is doing a good job, he should be left to continue that transformation being carried out in the law enforcement agency.”
By Ernest Kofi Adu