Bernard Allotey Jacobs, a former Central Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has praised the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akufo Dampare, and the Ghana Police Service for their professional conduct during the demonstration organised by the Democracy Hub.
His comments come on the back of the widespread public commendation for the Police for exercising restraint despite the provocation by the protesters.
In an interview with Pulse Ghana Monday, Allotey Jacobs commended the police’s crisis management approach, describing it as a significant departure from the force’s past tactics.
“For the first time, we saw police being calm and handling violent demonstrators without reciprocating the violence,” Jacobs said. “This is a new innovation in the police service, and I commend the IGP for it.”
He further alleged that the Democracy Hub, the pressure group behind the demonstration, was being sponsored by the NDC to create chaos ahead of the 7th December general elections. Jacobs suggested the move was part of a political strategy to tarnish the image of the current government. Drawing on his experience in politics, he claimed, “When you are in opposition, you try to gain the support of CSOs. They are being sponsored by the opposition NDC. I’ve organised such demonstrations in the past, so I know what I’m talking about.”
Despite his accusations against his former party, Jacobs praised the police for their calm and restrained handling of the situation. He expressed relief that the police did not retaliate in the face of the alleged politically motivated violence.
Jacobs also echoed public calls for the retention of IGP Dampare, irrespective of which political party wins the upcoming elections. He emphasised the need for an independent police service, noting that both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the NDC have had issues with Dampare, which he interprets as a sign of the police chief’s impartiality. “Ghana needs an independent IGP and police service. If the police boss is doing a good job, he should be left to continue that palpably enviable transformation being carried out in the law enforcement agency,” he said.
The remarks by Allotey Jacobs add to the ongoing debate over the role of the police in managing public protests and maintaining law and order in the lead-up to the general elections.
On Sunday, 22nd September, violent clashes broke out between demonstrators from the Democracy Hub and officers of the Ghana Police Service at the 37 Intersection in Accra, leading to the arrest of 42 protesters, including some of the event’s conveners.
Footage from the scene shows protesters engaging in physical altercations with law enforcement officers, pushing down police barricades and attacking personnel who were attempting to prevent the demonstrators from gathering at the busy intersection.
On Saturday, 21st September, the first day of the three-day protest, demonstrators blocked the intersection in all directions using vehicles and stones, set fires, harassed other road users, and banged on vehicles. Some protesters even took to playing football in the middle of the road, adding to the disruption.
The Ghana Police Service had earlier issued a stern warning to the organisers, describing the demonstrators’ actions as “unGhanaian, uncivil, and unlawful.” The police statement highlighted the severe inconvenience caused to the public, including commuters being stuck in traffic for hours, people in need of medical care facing delays in reaching hospitals, and families struggling to deliver supplies to loved ones at medical facilities. Additionally, there were significant disruptions to cultural and social events, such as funerals, as well as commercial activities, with people missing flights and being unable to access their businesses.
In their assessment, the police concluded that the demonstrators had no intention of staging a peaceful protest and warned that they would not allow any gatherings at the 37 Intersection. Instead, they proposed seven alternative locations for the protest, pledging to provide security if the demonstrators complied. However, the police warned that if protesters insisted on blocking the 37 Intersection, officers would use all lawful means to ensure the free movement of traffic and prevent undue inconvenience to the public.
Despite these warnings, demonstrators converged at the 37 Intersection, leading to the violent confrontation. According to the police, protesters attempted to use unapproved routes, sparking the clash with law enforcement.
One of the event’s conveners, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, was seen in several video footages pushing down police barricades and removing the key from a police vehicle, which he later threw away. Although police attempted to arrest him, Barker-Vormawor fled the scene. He has now been declared wanted by the Police.
