POLICE PERSONNEL yesterday seized a pistol from the National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Hamidu Akamba, during the second day of the ‘Arise Ghana’ demonstration which started at the El-Wak Stadium, Accra.
The seizure follows the Tuesday pandemonium which occurred at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle between the police and the protestors.
The NDC Organiser had served notice to carry a weapon along since he had the right and licensed to protect himself.
The police also arrested one person for possessing a pistol, but others whose firearms were registered put them away on the orders of the law enforcement officers.
One of the protestors, who surrendered his pistol after he was seen with the weapon, was sent to the police headquarters for further interrogations.
According to the Ghana Police Service on its Facebook page, its armed officers spotted Joshua Akamba with a weapon among the crowd of demonstrators who had gathered around the El-Wak Stadium yesterday.
“He was duly advised by the police to put the weapon away after his attention was drawn to the illegality associated with such an act.
“He was also urged to notify other demonstrators to desist from carrying offensive weapons during the demonstration,” the police said.
Earlier, before the demonstration commenced yesterday, Joshua Akamba, addressing the party members, said they were also making a case against the police for assault on Tuesday.
According to him, they were not intimidated by the action of the police, adding that, “We will make a case against the police. Whiles they are making case against us, we will also make a case, we will press charges against them.
“Tell them that we are not afraid of their intimidation. Nkrumah came out of jail and became president; we will rescue this country.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has served notice that all organisers of Tuesday’s demonstration by Arise Ghana will be arrested and arraigned.
The police say the organisers’ action resulted in the attacks and damages to public property.
Tuesday’s demonstration dubbed #KromAy3Hye demo ended abruptly after police restrained the demonstrators from pouring onto the Ring Road Central to March towards the Jubilee House.
Stones were pelted at the police, from persons accused by organisers as “agent provocateurs” planted within them by the same police, and tear gas were fired, that certainly from the police.
The National Youth Organiser of the NDC, George Opare Addo, who also addressed the protesters, said the leadership will not shield anyone caught with a weapon.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Opare Addo indicated that the leadership of the Arise Ghana group will avail themselves to any lawful police invite and procedures.
The Ghana Police Service has so far arrested 29 persons for their alleged involvements in violent crimes against police officers and school children during Tuesday’s demonstration.
Chief Supt Grace Ansah Akrofi, Director in charge of Public Affairs, said the organisers of the demonstration will be arrested and put before court for the attacks and damage to public property, in line with the provisions of Section 3 of the Public Order Act.
She said available video footages of the event were being reviewed and all other persons identified for taking part in the attacks as well as inciting the violence will be arrested and brought to face justice.
Leaders Present Petition
Deputy Ministers of Finance, Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah and Abena Osei Asare yesterday received a petition from the Arise Ghana Demo group at the Ministry of Finance.
Bernard Mornah, Convener for the group, presented the petition supported by some top NDC officials including Sammy Gyamfi, National Communications Director of the NDC, among several others.
Mr. Mornah said living conditions in Ghana were currently all “time high” because “government had imposed taxes, levies and charges on petroleum products” among other factors.
He said the group would go ahead to present a copy of the petition to the Speaker of Parliament.
Receiving the petition, Mrs. Osei Asare assured that government was doing its best to provide lasting solutions to the many challenges facing the country, intimating that government was concerned about the well-being of the citizens.
“Soon, you will see the programmes and activities that will be rolled out to address these concerns that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war,” she assured.
“We are all in this together. Let us support government and together, we will make Ghana great and strong,” she urged.
BY Daniel Bampoe, Linda Tenyah-Ayettey & Nii Adjei Mensahfio