Lawyer group pledges support for potential victims of police brutality during #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse protest

A group of lawyers has pledged to defend anyone who would fall victim to police brutality during the upcoming three-day protest by the Democracy Hub this weekend.

In a statement released on Saturday, September 21, the group, Lawyers for Protest Defence (LPD) said they expect clashes to occur between protesters and police given the ongoing disagreement over where the protest can be held.

The #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse protest is set to start Saturday morning at the Revolution Square which is opposite the Jubilee House, which houses the offices of the President.

However, police obtained a last-minute injunction barring protests at that specific location.

"Considering the clear disagreement between the protest conveners and the police, and the general policing culture in our beloved country, police brutalities and other human rights violations during the protest are amply foreseeable," said the LPD statement.

The group pointed out inconsistencies between police statements about the injunction and its actual terms.

“It is important to note that this claim by the police is not contained in or, in anyway, deducible from the Court order," the statement noted.

With tensions rising and no resolution on where protests can be held safely, LPD said it is prepared to defend any individuals subject to violence by security forces.

"As a result, Lawyers for Protest Defence (LPD) - an assembly of lawyers who dedicate a part of their professional services to advising and representing protesters who suffer police brutality - are announcing our preparedness to, once again, provide legal representation to persons who may be victims of police brutality during the three-day #ReOccuoyJulorbiHouse protest," the statement concluded.

The legal group is calling on other lawyers to join their team in protecting civil liberties during the upcoming demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has observed that the upcoming demonstrations intend to attack the seat of government and critical national infrastructure.

In a statement issued on September 20, Public Affairs Directorate of the Police Headquarters said intelligence gathered indicates demonstrators plan to "defy court orders, wield weapons, attack MPs and police officers, and storm business centres to cause chaos".

The police statement, cited the intelligence as suggesting protesters want to "attack the seat of government and electric power installations, encourage members to get catapults and stones ready, and use motorbikes to create chaos on the roads".