Politics of Monday, 19 September 2016

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

NPP, LMVCA took care of me after I lost my eye – Victim of Police brutality

Justice Adzakuma Justice Adzakuma

Justice Adzakuma, victim of the bloody Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) protests in 2015 has disclosed that he was catered for by members of the opposition NPP and LMVCA.

37-year-old Justice Adzakuma got his left eye damaged after security operatives charged on protesters following misunderstanding over route in their bid to picket at the EC office to demand a credible voters’ register.

Adzakuma is one of the many protesters who suffered various levels of injuries during the protests organised by the Let My Vote Count Alliance.

The protest, which was aimed at putting pressure on the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voter’s register for the 2016 elections, turned bloody after Police fired rubber bullets, sprayed tear gas and water cannons to scatter the crowd.

The group's protest followed the New Patriotic Party's claim that it had uncovered over 76,000 ghost names in the voter’s register, deeming it not credible.

Several protesters were seen injured in shots and videos which were taken on that day.

Vivid pictures of Police brutality against protesters who Police accused of being violent were circulated on social media.

Head of Public Affairs for Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur defended the Police´s stance saying that they had to contain the protesters with minimal force.

The Police claimed they had to respond after they were pelted with stones by the protesters.

Mr. Adzakuma stated that his left eye was no longer functioning although he had undertaken surgery to get a new one. He said the eye was an artificial one.

He indicated that the expenses he incurred for the surgery were taken care of by the LMVCA. He was full of appreciation toward the NPP and LMVCA and hoped that the party would come to power after the 2016 elections.

Let My Vote Count Alliance held a rally Friday to commemorate a year after their protest march for a credible voter's register in Accra.