29 arrested over Arise Ghana demonstration, organisers to be put before court

The Police Service has arrested 29 protestors from yesterday’s Arise Ghana demonstration, a police statement said.

“The Police have arrested 29 demonstrators for their participation in violent attacks on the Police and some members of the public including school children during the Arise Ghana demonstration in Accra.”

The statement added that organisers of the demonstration will also be arrested and arraigned for “attacks and damage to public property, in line with provisions of Section 3 of the Public Order Act, (Act 491). 

The protest turned chaotic after a clash between police officers and protestors, Tuesday afternoon. Footages shared on platforms showed both protestors and policemen with various levels of injuries. 

Both sides have accused each other of inciting the violence that marred the protest. 

The Police Service on its social media pages yesterday, called out the protestors, describing the turnout of events as “shameful.”

“What a shame, we were there to protect you and ensure your safety, but you throw stones at us, injure and hurt us. This behaviour is unacceptable and must be condemned,” it said both on Facebook and Twitter. 

At a press conference on Tuesday after the protest, one of the organisers, Rex Omar, accused the police of planting persons to orchestrate the violence that ensued. 

“One of the things we found out later is that a gentleman, who was with the police but had dressed as a demonstrator, was the first to pelt stones at the police, in the bid to instigate a reaction from them," he said. 

Protestors have currently converged at the El-Wak Stadium for day-two of the demonstration.