[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2006]


NDC Violence: We Did The Right Thing - Police

Accra Mail (Accra)
NEWS
February 22, 2006
Posted to the web February 23, 2006

The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, ACP Douglas Akrofie-Asiedu, has
rubbished the ugly noises being made by certain top ranking members of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC), masterminds of the violent ROPAD
demonstration and argued that the police took the right decision.
Speaking to the media in Accra yesterday, ACP Akrofie-Asiedu said it is ironic
to hear from certain respected public figures that the police overreacted. He
said: "We did the right thing to protect public property we could have stood
and watched things to go out of hands."
ACP Akrofie-Asiedu said he was dismayed to hear from some people, particularly
NDC leaders whose safety he personally ensured say that the police acted
unprofessionally.
"We did the right thing...to make sure law and order was restored... police in
any part of the world would have done the same thing"
He explained that "things were getting out of hand and we acted swiftly to save
the situation. When the heat was on I personally ensured that the Women's
Organiser of NDC, Ama Benyiwa-Doe and the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu-
Nketia were protected. But they are all saying different things today. I am
very surprised."
He announced that the police hierarchy had initiated investigations into the
violent incidents at the demonstration and would punish any officer found to
have mis-conducted himself.
Eye witness reports say a confrontation ensued between the police and the
demonstrators when the latter burnt used vehicle tyres and hurled stones at
police personnel.
The police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd as well as protect public
property.
Several people were injured including two journalists from the Crusading Guide
newspaper, Messrs Halifax Ansah-Addo and Anas Aremeyaw-Anas.
The Director of Public Relations at the Police Headquarters, DSP David Eklu has
said in a statement that the behaviour of some of the demonstrators run
contrary to assurances given by the organizers before the march.
It said anybody found culpable as a result of its investigations would be dealt
with according to the law and asked organizers of future demonstrations to
acquaint themselves with the letter of the Public Order Act.

   

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