Ghanaian opposition MPs to face court for staging ‘unlawful’ protest

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At least 11 Ghanaian opposition MPs have been dragged to court over their march to the country’s Electoral Commission head office in Accra on Tuesday.

The suit widely published online cited the 11 lawmakers including its leader Haruna Iddrisu of holding such an event without notifying the police.

It also said the NDC MPs’ action was an unlawful assembly.

The other legislators hauled before the court are; Asawase MP, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak; Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George; Yapei Kusawgu MP, John Abdulai Jinapor; South Sayi MP, Rockson Dafeamekpor; Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak; Damongo MP, Adam Mutawakilu; Lower Manya Krobo MP, Ebenezer Terlabi; Pru East MP, Dr. Kwabena Donkor; Sagnarigu MP; Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini; Juaboso MP, Kwabena Minta Akando.

Protests

A scuffle broke out between Ghana’s opposition MPs during a march to the Electoral Commission (EC) Headquarters Tuesday.

Led by the Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu and Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak, the MPs walked from parliament to petition the EC against the commission’s verdict that declared incumbent president Akufo-Addo as the winner of the 2020 polls.

But the MPs were prevented from going beyond a barricade around the Ridge Roundabout in Accra as they defied the orders of the police who said they were unaware of any walk by the Minority to the EC offices.

This turned chaotic as the police manhandled some of the MPs including Haruna Iddrisu.

“This is what the law allows us to do. But Akufo-Addo being the tyrant as he is decided to unleash the police on us”, said Agbodza Governs MP for Adaklu.

“They pushed me, molested me but we are here to do what we wanted to do but did you see any of us attacking the police?”, he quizzed.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with embarking on a walk to present a petition to any state institution but we find the action of the police very offensive; the police should be providing cover and not acting in such manner”, Kumbungu MP Ras Mubarak said.

Growing post-election tensions

Unrest in the West African country started a forth night ago after the Electoral Commission declared incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo as president-elect its December 7 polls.

Protests have taken place in Accra, Zabzugu, Techiman South, Tamale, Ketu South, Kumasi among others.

The Ghana Police Service has however warned the public against unlawful gatherings and demonstrations following the declaration of the results.

According to the police, such gatherings without prior notification amount to a breach of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491).

This can lead to various penalties “including imprisonment,” police have warned.

Police arrested 30 persons for demonstrating at the headquarters of the EC in Accra.

Source: Daily Mail GH