#OccupyBOG protest: Minority rejects police routes after initial “fruitful” meeting; tells police to be ready

The Minority in Parliament has rejected the network of routes proposed by the Greater Accra Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service for their intended #OccupyBOGProtest on September 5.

The police, after the meeting with the leadership of the Minority and some civil society organisations on August 23, declared, among other things, that they would rather the protesters not add the Bank of Ghana to their list of places to protest, indicating that the BOG is a security installation.

But the Minority says it will not accept the justifications of the police; contesting the new proposal by the police was not what the parties discussed at the meeting of 23rd August.

“I write to reject your proposed route for the #OccupyBOG protest planned for 5th September, 2023. The proposal in your 23rd August, 2023 letter was not an option discussed with us when my delegation met you,” Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson wrote in a letter to Commissioner of Police Dr. Sayibu Gariba.

“Your attempt to deny us the opportunity to terminate our #OccupyBOG protest at the Headquarters of the Bank of Ghana on the pretext that it is a “security zone” is untenable, troubling, and unwholesome for the Ghana Police Service’s motto of Service with Integrity,” the letter added.

The Minority argued that they have marched around the BOG premises in previous protests; hence, the police “do not have sufficient and compelling grounds to refuse to police this particular protest march on those routes” .

The group insisted it would go ahead and use the routes they had initially agreed with the police, asking them to be ready for the day.

“Please prepare to honour your constitutional duty along the routes we have designated for the #OccupyBOG protest on the date we have informed the Police and announced to the good people of Ghana. You have reasonable notice and enough time to prepare.”

The routes the Minority had planned to protest along is Parliament House, Osu Cemetery Traffic Light, Ministry of Finance, High Court Complex, Kinbu, Makola, Rawlings Park, Opera Square, and Bank of Ghana.