High Court awards GH¢150,000 damages against Ghana Police Service for abusing Bridget Otoo, two others

The Accra High Court has awarded GH¢150,000 in damages against the Ghana Police Service for violating the fundamental human rights of journalist Bridget Otoo and two other individuals during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest.

The court also ordered the Police Service to pay an additional GH¢30,000 as legal costs incurred by the applicants in pursuing the case.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, May 14, Justice Brew held that officers of the Ghana Police Service acted unlawfully and breached the constitutional rights of the victims, despite their mandate to protect citizens.

The court described the conduct of the police during the protest as “unconstitutional,” citing incidents of physical assault, unlawful detention, and interference with personal freedoms.

According to the judgment, the three applicants suffered distinct forms of abuse during the demonstration.

Bridget Otoo was reportedly assaulted by police officers, with her blouse allegedly torn during the incident.

Another applicant, Vanessa Edotom Boateng, was unlawfully detained, while her mobile phone was seized in an alleged attempt to prevent her from recording incidents of police misconduct.

The third applicant, George Gyening Anyang, was also found to have been severely assaulted while livestreaming events at a regional police station. He was allegedly slapped, punched, and beaten with a metallic belt and baton by officers.

As part of its orders, the court directed the Ghana Police Service to publish an unqualified apology in the state-owned Daily Graphic newspaper.

The #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest, which attracted widespread national attention, became a prominent symbol of youth activism and civic demand for improved governance, accountability, and social justice.