Lawyers for the Minority in Parliament yesterday Thursday, August 31 filed with the registry of the High Court in Accra, an affidavit in opposition to the application by the Accra Regional Police for an Order to prohibit their upcoming #OccupyBoGProtest march slated for Tuesday, 5th September, 2023.
The application is due to be heard on Monday, 4th September, 2023.
“The Minority in collaboration with Arise Ghana, other Civil Society Organisations and well-meaning Ghanaians are resolved to embark on this historic protest march to demand the immediate resignation of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and his two Deputies, for superintending a colossal loss of GHS66.8 billion in 2022 alone, which has occasioned a Negative Equity of GHS55.1 billion, as well as other acts of financial malfeasance that have completely destroyed the Central Bank.
“The Minority group and other progressive forces said they remain focused and will not relent until Misgovernor Addison, his complicit Deputies and pliant Board of Directors resign,” they said.
The Accra Regional Police Command of the Ghana Police Service earlier secured an injunction against the Minority over disagreements with the route for Tuesday’s demonstration.
The Minority had planned to storm the Bank of Ghana (BoG) on Tuesday, September 5 to intensify calls for the Governor, Dr Ernest Yedu Addison, and his two deputies to resign.
Dubbed ‘Occupy BoG’, the protest march was to start at Parliament House and end up at the headquarters of the Central Bank.
But police had written to the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, asking for a revision of the routes, insisting the headquarters of the BoG is a security zone.
“Following the security assessment, on 23rd August, 2023, the Command engaged the organisers and assured them that the Police are ready to provide them the needed security to exercise their constitutional right to demonstrate,” the Accra Regional Command said in a news release issued by Head of the Public Affairs Unit, SP Juliana Obeng.
“However, Police drew their attention to the fact that using their selected routes may endanger public order and public safety among others.”
The Minority Leader on Monday, August 28 wrote back to the Command to insist on the routes for the procession.
“I write to reject your proposed route for the OccupyBoG demonstration planned for 5th September 2023,” the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Member of Parliament (MP) wrote.
“The proposal in your 22nd August 2023 letter was an option discussed with us when my delegation met with you.
“Your attempt to deny us an opportunity to terminate our OccupyBoGproetst at the Headquarters of the Bank of Ghana on the pretext that it is a security zone is untenable, troubling, and unwholesome for the Ghana Police Service motto of Service and Integrity,” he stated in his letter.
But before the dust settles on this, the police have secured a High Court’s injunction against the march.
The injunction was secured by Superintendent of Police (SP) Isaac Yeboah on Wednesday, August 30 against Dr Ato Forson, Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Masawudu Mahamah, Bernard Mornah and Rex Omar, all with Arise Ghana, who pledged to be part of the protest.
The Court is to move hearing on the case on Monday, September 4.