AFAG defies police, set to hit the street

The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) is hell bent on embarking on its massive demonstration in spite of Police disapproval.

The group has penciled Thursday, July 2, 2009 to protest over what they say is the high cost of living imposed on Ghanaians by harsh economic policies implemented by the Mills administration.

They cite the increases in fuel prices, hikes in student's academic facility user fees all without a corresponding increase in salaries and wages of workers as reason for the demonstration.

The Police say they are unable to provide security on the day of the demonstration due to “task operations” and “patrol duties,” and have called for a postponement.

Director of Police Public Relations DSP Kwesi Ofori told Joy News it would exhaust all legal means to prevent the demonstration from taking place.

An application for a court injunction appears to be the possible option DSP Ofori hinted.

He said the police will not encourage lawlessness in the country.

But the organizers of the demonstration are not impressed.

A leading member of AFAG, Ofori Atta in an interview with Joy News said “he would be shocked if a court in Ghana would grant the police request for injunction with reasons as flimsy as the ones given.”

According to him the police cited the arrival of US President Barak Obama as one of the reasons it could not provide security, an excuse Ofori Atta said is untenable.

He said their only duty was to inform the police of their intended demonstration, which they have done, and not to seek permission from them.

They are ready to march onto the streets with their own security measures in place, he said.

The excuses given by the police, Ofori Atta noted were to curtail their fundamental human rights, which he swore they would resist.

The demonstration according to Ofori Atta is a “struggle for economic judgement.”

Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline