Alexander Afenyo-Markin
Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has filed a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to launch an investigation into the conduct of a police officer who allegedly assaulted him during the ‘Save the Judiciary’ demonstration on Monday.
The petition, attached to a statement issued on Monday, May 5, 2025 by the office of the Minority Leader and signed by Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, said the IGP should take appropriate action against Constable Forson, who physically assaulted him at the entrance of Parliament House.
That, he said, would help correct the misleading narratives circulating in the public domain, while condemning such reprehensible act of violence during the protest.
According to the Minority Leader, the incident occurred when they made a stop at the entrance of Parliament House to present the second petition, where copies had already been delivered at the Supreme Court.
Narrating the incident, he said he had been invited by the Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah and Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei as well as the National Organiser of the party, Henry Nana Boakye, who had already been granted access.
He said, “As I approached the barricade without any provocation, a uniformed Police officer stationed behind the barricade, Constable Forson, a tall, fair, heavily built officer deliberately struck the left side of my chest with the full force of his right palm directly near my heart.
“The impact of the hit dazed me and I was visibly shaken and short of breath. In that moment, I spontaneously protested his conduct asking why he would seek to harm me.”
The Minority Leader said an officer who was facilitating his access along with other officers quickly intervened and assisted him to the restricted area, where he had to lean against a wall at the entrance of Parliament House in order not to collapse.
He mentioned that a National Service person from Parliament and a security officer assisted him to a nearby rest room to stabilise his condition.
“Mr. Richard Ahiagbah, Mr. Henry Nana Boakye, and the Greater Accra Regional Organiser stayed by my side, providing support and ensuring my well-being. After regaining some composure, I was helped to the wash room to wash my face though I was still unwell.
“I made a deliberate effort to compose myself, calm myself down and rejoin the leadership of the delegation to present the petition, determined not to let the incident create a scene or derail the purpose of our peaceful process,” he added.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated that the police officer who assaulted him could not be located by senior officers of the police and Deputy Marshal of Parliament after presenting the petition to Parliament.
The Ghana Police Service has also initiated a formal investigation into the alleged assault of the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
According to a statement from the police, the service has reviewed several video recordings from the demonstration, which captured an incident involving a police officer and the lawmaker.
It said the police has written to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to request Mr. Afenyo-Markin to be released to assist with ongoing investigations into the alleged assault, and assured the public of giving the matter the attention it deserves.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah