Leader of the “Save the Judiciary” demonstration, Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has alleged that he was physically assaulted by a uniformed police officer during the peaceful protest held on May 5, 2025.

The incident reportedly occurred at the entrance of Parliament House, one of the designated stops for presenting the group’s petition on constitutional and judicial independence.

According to a statement issued by Mr. Afenyo-Markin, the officer involved, identified as Constable Forson, struck him forcefully in the chest without provocation while he was attempting to join fellow demonstrators who had already been granted access to Parliament.

Describing the assault, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said, “A uniformed officer, stationed behind the barricade, deliberately struck the left side of my chest near my heart with his right palm.

The impact left me dazed and short of breath.”

He added that fellow officers and the Inspector facilitating his entry intervened swiftly, assisting him into a restricted area to recover.

Support was also provided by party members and parliamentary staff, who helped stabilise him before he rejoined the group to present the petition.

Efforts by senior police officers and the Deputy Marshal of Parliament to locate the officer after the incident were unsuccessful, with suspicions that the constable may have been discreetly removed from the scene.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin expressed strong disapproval of the officer's conduct, calling it a "deliberate, reckless, and targeted attack" that stands in stark contrast to the professionalism displayed by officers stationed at other protest locations such as the Supreme Court and Jubilee House.

“What occurred at Parliament was an embarrassing and dangerous departure from the professionalism we witnessed elsewhere,” he said.

He also condemned attempts by some individuals to misrepresent the incident and portray him as the aggressor, asserting that he merely protested the officer’s actions.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin announced that he is formally petitioning the Inspector-General of Police to initiate a full investigation into the matter.

He emphasised that numerous senior officers witnessed the assault and could corroborate his account.

In the same statement, he criticised the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for allegedly attempting to politicise the incident, accusing them of using propaganda to deflect attention from the demonstrators’ key constitutional concerns.

“We marched to defend the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary—principles that must be protected at all costs,” he concluded.