The Ghana Police Service has finally granted permission to a group of Ghanaians who planned to picket at the Flagstaff House on Tuesday.
The group is protesting against what they describe as harsh economic conditions in the country.
The Police earlier entreated the organizers of the picket dubbed ‘Occupy Flagstaff House’ to reschedule the march.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Greater Accra Police Command, DSP Freeman Tettey told Citi News, the timing of the protest is not convenient as far as public policing is concerned.
But a press statement issued by the Group Convener of the march, Akwasi Awuah noted that “the Ghana Police Service and Concerned Ghanaians for Responsible Governance (CGRG) have agreed that come tomorrow July 1, 2014 the protest dubbed #occupyflagstaffhouse or #occupyflagstaff and the presentation of a petition to H.E. John Dramani Mahama will take place as planned.”
It further indicated that the only alteration to the event is that Ghanaians will converge on the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park at 6am instead of the Flag Staff House.
“The Ghana Police Service has graciously assured us of protection for the entire duration of the protest. Let us however stress again that we shall not condone any form of violence, hooliganism or lawlessness,” it further clarified.
Below is the full statement issued by the Group
The meeting with the Ghana Police Service came to a successful end a little while ago. The official report from that meeting is as follows:
The Ghana Police Service and Concerned Ghanaians for Responsible Governance (CGRG) have agreed that come tomorrow July 1, 2014 the protest dubbed #occupyflagstaffhouse or #occupyflagstaff and the presentation of a petition to H.E. John Dramani Mahama will take place as planned.
The only alteration to the event is that all concerned Ghanaians will converge at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park at 6am and not in front of the Flagstaff House as proposed earlier.
We will then march peacefully to the Flagstaff House to present our petition to the President. This compromise was reached as a result of sound security concerns presented by the Police. The Ghana Police Service has graciously assured us of protection for the entire duration of the protest. Let us however stress again that we shall not condone any form of violence, hooliganism or lawlessness.
We are prepared to hand over to the Police anyone who decides to engage in such behavior. Furthermore, we entreat you all to come along with some water for your own consumption.
As responsible citizens, it is our duty to ensure we do not litter so please ensure that you properly dispose of any waste you may create during tomorrow’s peaceful protest.
Come clad in a red or black attire. Come with a placard and/or a Ghana flag. Come one; come all and let us demand responsible governance. #Occupyflagstaffhouse #occupyflagstaff CGRG – Responsible Governance for a Happy People.
SIGNED :Nana Akwasi Awuah Group Convener
