Occupy BoG Protest: Dampare Pats Officers

Assigned police officers to the Occupy Bank of Ghana protest have received the approval of the Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akufo Dampare.

This follows a peaceful and smooth collaboration with the protesters during the protest on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

In a live Facebook video on Tuesday at the end of the event, the IGP together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB) were captured extending handshakes with the officers for the job well done.

It could be deduced that the IGP was elated by the performance of his men. Some of the officers took the chance to take selfies with him as he readily accepted.

This comes after the Commission on Human Rights Administration Justice (CHRAJ) issued an advisory to the IGP for incidents of abuses during protests in the country.

The country has recorded cases of abuse of protesters by the law enforcement agency over the years including abuse of students of Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi last year and a recent one during the Occupy Jubilee protest.

The CHRAJ was among a number of Institutions including the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to condemn the police for their chronic behavior with protesters after the incidents with the Occupy Jubilee House protest on September 21, 2023.

CHRAJ said these responses of the police to protests have been “disproportionate and leaves much to be desired”.

“It is in this context that the Commission deems it appropriate as the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) with the mandate to promote and protect human rights under the Constitution and CHRAJ Act, 1993 (Act 456) and its obligations under the Paris Principles to issue an advisory to relevant state actors on matters of human right concern,” it noted in their letter and then made six recommendations to the police.

In a statement dated October 3, the Police Service appreciated efforts of the stakeholders for the peaceful protest.

“The Ghana Police Service wishes to express its gratitude to all stakeholders for their cooperation and support during the demonstration organized by the Minority Group in Parliament today, Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023.”