Hands Off Our Hotels: Protesters exchange “Pure Water” and “Pepper Spray” for Tear Gas from Police as peaceful Demo turns Chaotic
“Why were the police throwing tear gas at this time? Why did they want to scatter a peaceful protest that had come to a climax as if they planned to do this? The IGP must wake up from his slumber. Unprofessionalism by the Ghana Police must cease, he stressed.
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Several protesters participating in the ‘Hands Off Our Hotels’ demonstration have been rushed to the 37 Military Hospital.
This comes after the police reportedly used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
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The incident occurred during a protest led by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa against the sale of state-owned hotels.
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According to reports, when the police forcibly prevented the crowd from advancing, some of the protesters threw sachet water at them.
In the heat of the moment, some officers deployed pepper spray and tear gas, leading to injuries among several individuals.
Mr. Ablakwa condemned the police’s actions, stating, “We condemn what the police have done. You do not take the law into your own hands and fire tear gas at innocent citizens. We’ve rushed some protesters to the 37 Military Hospital. The police hierarchy will be dragged to Parliament for their conduct.”
The protest, held on Tuesday, June 18, was organised to oppose the sale of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) hotels to Rock City Hotel Limited, owned by the Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong.
Mr. Ablakwa also criticised the police for reneging on an agreement to end the protest at Christ the King Parish.
“I don’t understand why they want us to end here. Is this Christ the King? What they have done is in bad faith. They just decided to stop us at the Cocoa Research guest house,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), also commented on the incident, describing the excessive use of force on innocent protesters as unfortunate.
He also accused the government of looting state resources.
“Leadership is supposed to be working for the people but what we have now is a leadership that is looking out for itself. History will have it that Ghanaians rose against this corrupt and insensitive government.”
On his part, former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, criticised the police for their conduct.
“Why were the police throwing tear gas at this time? Why did they want to scatter a peaceful protest that had come to a climax as if they planned to do this? The IGP must wake up from his slumber. Unprofessionalism by the Ghana Police must cease, he stressed.
Calm was, however, restored with the petition presented to the government.
Source: Gloria KAFUI Ahiable || theghanareport.com
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