The Police say they have so far arrested 29 persons for their participation in violent attacks, which saw 12 police officers injured and some officials vehicles damaged, during the Arise Ghana demonstration on Tuesday.
The organisers of the demonstration, it said in separate statements copied the Ashantibiz, would also be arrested and put before the courts “for the attacks and damage to public property, in line with the provisions of Section 3 of the Public Order Act, (Act 491).”
The statement, signed by Chief Superintendent of Police, Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs, said the 12 Police officers, who sustained various degrees of injuries were treated in the Police Mobile Hospitals.
They had since been transferred to the Police Hospital for further treatment.
It explained that the demonstration by the Arise Ghana group commenced with demonstrators gathering at the Obra spot at about 0800 hours.
However, contrary to the court orders, the organisers insisted on using routes leading to the Jubilee House.
The statement said all attempts to persuade them to comply with the court-approved routes did not yield the expected results.
“Without any provocation, the demonstrators began pelting the police with stones,” it stated.
They also regrouped and burnt tyres on the road around Circle.
The statement said the Police, therefore, had no option but to use teargas and water cannons to subdue the rioting and restore order.
The fire from the burning tyres had since been put out by the police.
The statement said the road had partially been cleared and urged all road users to continue to bear with them and use alternative routes where possible as they took steps to fully disperse the rioting demonstrators.
It said available video footages of the event were being reviewed and all other persons identified for taking part in the attacks as well as inciting the violence would be arrested and brought to face justice.
“Meanwhile, the Police would like to draw the attention of the public to the calculated falsehood and misinformation being peddled by the organisers and their cohorts.
” We urge the public to disregard the untruths and treat them with the contempt they deserve, for the footages and images of the event speak for themselves.
“We would like to assure the public that we remain committed and professionally measured in the discharge of our constitutional mandate of enforcing law and order in the country.”
ashantibiz
