Wednesday, 06 November

‘It’s their behaviour that landed them in police grips not protest’ – Akufo-Addo on Democracy Hub demo arrests

Politics
Nana Akufo-Addo (middle) leading the 'Kume Preko' demonstration in 1995

President Nana Akufo-Addo has said he has no problems with protests since his whole political career was defined by one.

Mr Akufo-Addo was one of the prominent figures who led the ‘Kume Preko’ demonstration – touted as the biggest-ever anti-government demonstration against high cost of living in 1995.

The march, which attracted over 100,000 turned out to be a defining moment of his political career.

Following the arrears of some protestors in a recent demonstration organised against his government, there had been claims that the executive may have had a hand in it.

In an interview with France24, however, President Akufo-Addo said: “I’m not responsible for jailing people in Ghana,” adding: “The courts in Ghana are independent institutions and they have been all through this period of the Fourth Republic.”

He noted: “When people misconduct themselves and they are brought before the court, it’s for the court to deal with them.”

“It has nothing to do with the executive and their behaviour is what lands them in a problem with the police and with the courts, it's not the protests,” stressed the president.

He wondered: “How can the president, whose political career was aided by leading protests, have problems with protests? I don’t have problems with protests and nothing is done in Ghana to prevent people from airing their views on anything.”

 

 

Source: ClassFMonline.com/Terkperkuor Puor