Five persons believed to be members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are assisting the Accra Regional Police Command over rioting.
They are Benedicta Coffie, 20, Kweku Osai, 23, Mohammed Fona, 21, Bismark Teye, 30 and Lukman Zakaria, 38.
Accra Regional Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, said on Sunday, December 13, 2020, at about 5pm, a group of people were found rioting and burning car tyres at the Christian Village Junction, Achimota.
She said police were alerted and proceeded to the scene where they managed to put out the fire as well as arrested some members of the group.
DSP Tenge said whilst their cautioned statements were being taken, other members of the Party, on hearing their arrest started massing up at the station.
The Formed Police Unit Team came in and assisted in transferring the suspects to the Regional Command, where they are on detention.
The unlawful protests have caused the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to issue a statement calling on the public to comply with the Public Assembly Law.
The police say it has noted with concern the recent disregard for the Law resulting in damage both state and private property.
Such Assembly, including demonstrations, fell directly under the Public Order Act,1994 (ACT 491) and must be complied with.
Police Director of Public Affairs Superintendent of Police Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman, indicated in a statement that “The Public Order Act places an obligation on persons who desire to hold demonstration or special event to give notice to the Police of such intention in a period of not less than five days before the date of event.
It also obliged participants to obey the direction of the police officers safeguarding the proper movement of other persons and vehicles and generally maintaining order.”
It therefore called on the organizers and participants of such events to give due regard to the laws of the country, adding that failure to notify the police of any special events amounted to an offence leading to penalties including imprisonment.
It said if any crime was committed in the course of such unlawful demonstration, all participants would be held liable for the crime.