#OccupyJuborbiHouse Protest to Proceed Despite Security Concerns

The extended version of the Occupy Jubilee House protest will take place despite unassured security by the Ghana Police Service, Democracy Hub, organisers have noted.

According to a press release by the Organiser, the police responded to their request for security for the month-long protest with a request to reschedule to after January 5, 2023.

“Democracy Hub, Convenors of #FixTheCountry and #OccupyJulorbiHouse, have received a letter from the Ghana Police Service on behalf of the Inspector General of Police regarding the upcoming #0cupyJulorbillouse protest scheduled for December. In their letter, the Ghana Police Service expressed an inability to provide protection to the protestors during the Christmas and New Year Festivities, citing their intentional lumping up of well-meaning citizens protesting about the continued hardships in our motherland and the need for constitutional reform now, with well-known party actors of the ruling government. One of which is represented by a known member of the flagbearer of the ruling NPP.”

It indicated that the protest would proceed as planned regardless.

“We further reminded the Ghana Police Service that their statutory obligation to provide traffic support during a demonstration cannot be used to deny the right to protest, no matter how important they consider their attachment to celebrating Christmas while Ghanaians suffer across the country.”

This means Ghana will witness an extended version of Occupy Jubilee House Protest. During the first edition which took place for three days from September 21 to 23, protesters were unable to breach police barriers to picket at the seat of Ghana’s presidency as initially planned.

This time around, the group will demand the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, steps down immediately or gets impeached by Parliament.

“Democracy Hub believes that the President’s stewardship of this country demonstrates incompetence, a lack of integrity, routine abuse of power, and greed,” it said in a statement on Monday, October 9, 2023.

The protest is scheduled to take place from December 1 to December 31.

Objective
The protesters are rallying for the same causes as in the first protest.

They will demonstrate against the high unemployment rate, economic mismanagement, deterioration in press freedom and extra-judicial killings and the persecution of activists calling for democratic reforms.

They will also call for the prompt prosecution of corrupt officials, including individuals within the President’s family and inner circle.

“The protest will also serve to educate Ghanaians on our enduring advocacy for a New Constitution for a New Generation. We believe in progressive Constitutional Reforms that will provide a better framework for social equity and economic justice for our people: as well as help confront the abuse of power and impunity more squarely,” it added.

Picketing
Following their unsuccessful attempt to picket at the Jubilee House during the previous protest, the organizers have announced that this time, picketing will take place at the ‘publicly accessible side facing Liberation Street’.

“Democracy Hub pledges to establish and publish extensive picketing guidelines to ensure a smooth and peaceful event. Informational sessions will be conducted to educate the public about these guidelines.”