A member of the New Patriotic Party's communication team, Ellen Ama Daaku, has lauded the Ghana Police Service for their professionalism during the Democracy Hub protest.

Drawing comparisons with past demonstrations in the country during her appearance on TV3 NewDay on September 26, 2024, she alleged that under former President John Dramani Mahama's administration, during the 'Let My Vote Count' protest, some demonstrators were beaten with horse whips.

She contrasted this with the recent Democracy Hub protest, emphasasing that no such violence was recorded and only arrests were effected.

"We had people who were beaten with horse whips during Mahama's time. The Ghana Police Service, in my estimation, did very well. We've had protests in this country. At least I remember the Let My Vote Count protest. I was part of that time. I still had a baby. I joined them, but I left earlier and went home. By the end of the day, we saw people who were beaten, and it was under the presidency of John Dramani Mahama," she stated.

She continued "So, if you are going to be blaming political parties and presidents for things that happen during protests, we should start with former President Mahama and how he allowed people to be beaten to the extent that one person lost his eye. And we said the police has hurt the person. The person lost his eye. And we got the party telling us that it was set up and the person was lying."

Ellen Daaku also questioned why people are associating the recent arrest with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

"We had NDC people sitting in the media, telling us that the people are exaggerating. We had people who were beaten properly, beaten with horse whips. So, I think we should take the political actors out of this. I don't think His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa asked the police to beat these ones. All they did was arrest people; I haven't seen one person being beaten. I haven't seen anybody being beaten with a horse whip," she stated.

She condemned the demonstrators for engaging in lawless behaviours, including blocking roads, pushing down police crash barriers, and obstructing traffic at the 37 Intersection.

"According to the police, they were supposed to go by a certain route. They didn't do it, and they decided to go near a referral hospital that Ghanaians use, and we have some Ghanaians who are protesting. You see vivid signs of them trying to annoy the police, and the police were very calm about it.

"What they did was round them up and pick to the police station. They have been remanded by a court of competent jurisdiction. So, what exactly is the problem now? I think we are just trying to escalate everything. when there is no issue to be escalated," she added.

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, Democracy Hub began a three-day protest to draw attention to the impact of illegal mining activities and economic mismanagement in the country.

Subsequently several protesters were arrested by the police for allegedly committing unlawful acts.

Tensions between the police and Democracy Hub escalated on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, when the police secured an injunction from the Accra High Court to prevent the group from holding their 3-day protest at Revolution Square, located in front of the Jubilee House.

TWI NEWS

JKB/AE