The attorney for organizers of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstrators in a furious response to what he describes as “undemocratic” detention of protestors has denounced the police’s conduct as he highlighted the fact that the detainees were not given any court notice.
Approximately some 80 members of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration group find themselves in custody at the regional police headquarters in Accra Central, sparking outrage within the legal community and among supporters of the movement.
Prince Ganaku, the lawyer representing the detained protesters, expressed his discontent with the police’s actions and urged them to reconsider their approach. Ganaku emphasized the protesters’ commitment to fighting for the common good, asserting that they are advocating for the interests of police officers and their families.
“To the police, these people are fighting for you. When your kids are sick, they will go to the hospitals you and I go to and not where rich people go. I know what you earn. I cannot explain to you how much these people are on your side, so when you take this stance to make an unlawful arrest,” he said.
Ganaku further highlighted the interconnectedness of society, pointing out that the protesters are working to protect the police officers’ interests, including their children’s education and their parents’ financial security in banks. He warned against the consequences of a deteriorating educational system and financial instability, which would ultimately affect the police officers themselves.
In a rallying call to fellow lawyers, Ganaku called upon legal professionals to speak out against the unjust arrests and to support the detained organizers. He urged the Ghana Bar Association, lawyer groups, and individual attorneys to uphold the rule of law in the face of what he deemed an unconstitutional and unlawful crackdown on peaceful protesters.
“I want to send out a message to all lawyers who are interested in defending the rule of law. Ghana Bar Association, all lawyer groups, and every lawyer should know that what is going on is wrong. You should have an ethical and moral obligation to speak up in a situation like this. We are in a democratic dispensation right now; we shouldn’t be seeing things like this,” Ganaku declared.
He also pledged to tirelessly work towards securing the release of all the arrested members, maintaining that the arrests were unconstitutional and unjustifiable.
Ganaku concluded by refuting claims that the protesters had been served a notice by the police, asserting that no such notification had been received by the organizers or their legal representatives. The situation remains fluid, with a growing chorus of legal voices joining the call for justice and the protection of democratic values in Ghana.
