Court awards Bridget Otoo, two others GH¢150,000 over police abuse
The ruling was delivered on Thursday, May 14, by Justice Brew, who held that police officers acted unlawfully during the protest.
The Ghana Police Service has been ordered to pay GH¢150,000 in damages to journalist Bridget Otoo and two others over rights violations during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest.
The Accra High Court also awarded GH¢30,000 in legal costs against the police.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday, May 14, by Justice Brew, who held that police officers acted unlawfully during the protest.
The court found that the conduct of the officers breached the fundamental rights of the three applicants, although the police are constitutionally required to protect citizens.
According to the judgment, the violations included physical assault, unlawful detention and interference with personal freedoms.
The court heard that Bridget Otoo was assaulted during the protest, with her blouse allegedly torn in the process.
Another applicant, Vanessa Edotom Boateng, was found to have been unlawfully detained.
The court also found that police officers seized her mobile phone in an attempt to stop her from recording alleged acts of brutality.
The third applicant, George Gyening Anyang, was assaulted while livestreaming events at the regional police station.
He was reportedly slapped, punched and beaten with a metallic belt and baton.
Justice Brew described the police conduct as unconstitutional.
Beyond the damages and costs, the court ordered the Ghana Police Service to publish an unqualified apology in the Daily Graphic.
The #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest attracted national attention as young people and civil society activists demanded better governance, economic accountability and social justice.
