There’s still Covid-19 ban on public gatherings – Police to #FixTheCountry protesters

The police has reminded organisers of the #FixTheCountry protest that there is still a ban on public gatherings as part of the coronavirus pandemic protocols.

The organisers of the protest had written to the police informing them of their intention to hit the streets on May 9, 2021 but in a response, the police said they will not be available to provide them protection.

The police however reminded and advised the organisers that the ban on public gatherings in line with COVID-19 protocols is still in force.

One of the convenors of the group, Adatse Brownson has said they are still engaging the police on the issue with their lawyers.

A social media campaign with the hashtag #FixTheCountry started at the weekend with the organisers arguing that the Akufo-Addo administration should fix the problems confronting Ghana.

According to the group, every sector of the country needs to be fixed.

Police reaction

Speaking on behalf of the Greater Accra Regional Police, DSP Effia Tenge said the police received the letter of notification about the planned protest on May 9 on Tuesday afternoon and has since met with the convenor and one other leader.

She said the command told them they could embark on the demonstration, however, “there is an imposition or restriction” banning large public gatherings such as what they intend to organise and therefore the police may not be able to provide them with protection.

However, they could come back when the restrictions are lifted for the police to provide them the necessary protection as required by the Public Order Act.

What is the campaign about

The protest dubbed: “FixTheCountry, is in response to what the convenors say was economic hardship in Ghana under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo.

Many have taken to Twitter to express their views with what they consider as “economic mess” confronting the country and they want leadership to fix it.

Below is a copy of the notification they sent to the police

“For Your Attention Ghana Police Service Accra

What’s the point of that? We have no intention of gaining entry into any security installation, destroying private property or breaching the peace in any other way. The March is about due process and government accountability. As such we intend to conduct the March in a manner consistent with the laws of the country, with particular regard to our rights and duties under the Constitution and such other relevant. This notice being itself an indication of such intent. There is no intention to engage in the same patterns of lawless conduct that elected officials and their appointees are prone to. Also, we assure you that unlike the 2020 Elections which led to the unexplained deaths of Ghanaian citizens for which, till this day, no official has been held accountable for; our March is not grounded in gratuitous violence.

Source: graphiconline