NPP demands probe into police assault on demonstrators

The opposition New Patriotic Party is demanding an immediate probe into police brutality against defenceless protesters which punctuated a demonstration held yesterday..

The party is accusing the police of using brute force against unarmed citizens in a botched demonstration to demand a new voters' register.

The demonstration, organised by pressure group, Let My Vote Count Alliance had members of the NPP, and other pressure groups including Alliance for Accountable Governance all taking part in it.

They want the EC to, with immediate effect, change the voter's register they claimed was bloated. But the demonstration to demand that change turned violent.

Tens of protesters, including the New Patriotic Party's Gabby Asare Otchere Darko were subjected to severe beatings with horse whips by police personnel.

The Police also arrested 34 of the protesters whom they accused of breaching the law. They had early on secured a court order to restrain the protesters from going to the Electoral Commission to present a petition.

The law enforcement agency claimed some of the protesters pelted them with stones, whilst others decided to proceed to the Electoral Commission.

Public Relations Officer of the CID, ASP Benefo Darkwa said they had no choice but to use minimal force to restore law and order.

That minimal force has been condemned by some political watchers and a section of Ghanaians.

Some of them who spoke to Joy News believed the police were high-handed in their treatment of the protestors.

Reacting to the comments by the police the New Patriotic Party's National Organiser John Boadu said claims by the police that the protesters threw stones at them cannot be true.

He challenged the police to produce, from the detailed video recording they gathered at the scene of the demonstration, a clip of stone-throwing demonstrators.

On the contrary, he said all media houses have clips of police personnel subjecting innocent protesters to severe beating.

He said it will be in the interest of the police for the public not to lose confidence in them.