An odd way to build confidence and court cordiality!
It’s very uplifting that President John Mahama has come out firmly on the side of freedom of expression, by asking the Police Administration to investigate the police excesses during their confrontation with the people peacefully marching in support of a new voters register for Election 2016.
Advertisement
But it would have been more reassuring if condemnation, or at least some criticism, of the violence during the September 16 demonstration had come from the Inspector-General of Police himself.
For, it was a prime opportunity for IGP Mr Mohammed A. Alhassan to show his personal commitment to the ‘Public Confidence Reaffirmation Campaign’ he launched in March, last year.
Incidentally, it’s interesting that last week the Police Administration came out with its reaction to the judiciary corruption bombshell released by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The statement, signed by the Director General of the Public Affairs Directorate, DCOP Ampah Bennin, expressed the readiness of the Criminal Investigation Department to play a “crucial role in managing the allegations against the judges,” the Daily Guide of September 15 reported.
If the Police Administration could act so proactively in that issue, why not the same approach regarding a matter on its doorstep?
As stated by David Asante, convener of the Let My Vote Count Alliance, their objective was to publicise their belief in the need for a new voters register for Election 2016, given the problems with the current one. The demonstration was to end with the presentation of a petition to the EC stating their viewpoint.
Others who joined in the march included members of the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Movement for Change, and the Alliance for Accountable Governance.
Other Trending Stories
Granted that some of the marchers flouted the court order and tried to divert from the approved route onto a road leading to the Electoral Commission (EC), was it really necessary to unleash such ferocity on unarmed people, as testified to by print and television images?
Although the police version disputes that the force they used was disproportionate, one of the demonstrators, named as 36-year-old Mr Justice Adzakumah, has reportedly lost an eye – or is that, too, disputed? There were also arrests.
Last year, welcoming the Confidence Reaffirmation initiative, the question I posed in this column, on March 28, was: “How best can public confidence be boosted?” Is this the way to reaffirm public confidence in the Police Service, by using horse whips, tear gas and general, apparently gleeful intimidation and inflicting various degrees of injury?
I would say that it’s an odd way of building public confidence in the police and courting cordiality.
Commenting, President Mahama described himself as “a veteran demonstrator”, the Daily Graphic of September 21 reported, for which reason he said he would in no way put impediments in the way of anyone or group of Ghanaians who want to express their democratic right through legal protest. The excesses “should absolutely not have happened”, he said.
Significantly, Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP’s presidential candidate for Election 2016, has commended President Mahama’s call for an inquiry, but believes it should be done by an independent body to ensure an impartial, credible outcome.
It’s interesting that prior to President Mahama’s directive the police had justified the brutality. For instance, the Ghanaian Times of last Friday quoted Mr John Kudalor, Director-General in Charge of Operations, as saying in a radio interview: “I don’t feel sorry; the boys did well” because the marchers had failed to heed to the approved route
According to reports, there were police barricades at all the access points to the EC, so what exactly was the apprehension about?
Had the Electoral Commission indicated anywhere that they would not accept the Alliance petition?
At an Inter-Party Advisory Committee on August 21, one of the agenda issues was the NPP’s petition that a new voters register is a must for Election 2016, because it has evidence of more than 76,000 Togolese names in Ghana’s current register. New Electoral Commissioner, Charlotte Osei, requested all of the parties to present their position on the matter in writing to the EC.
Not only that, she specifically requested inputs from civil society groups, too; and all were to send their submissions by September 22. Evidently, it was in response to that astute decision by Mrs Osei that the Alliance adopted their strategy of a march and a petition.
As they were unable to present their petition to the EC, the Alliance has reportedly indicated their resolve to go on another march and present their petition to the EC next week.
Advertisement
I’ve been trying to understand why some of the marchers chose to defy the court order. But were they all genuine demonstrators or there were some infiltrators as well, pretending to be sympathisers but in reality there to cause trouble for the Alliance?
Was the excessive force by the police perhaps more an intimidation tactic aimed at warning others contemplating any demonstrations related to Election 2016?
Again I ponder the effect on the Confidence Reaffirmation Campaign, one of a number of similar strategies over the years.
I recall that some years ago there was an innovative scheme of music and dancing. Yes, dancing! There were live band community-and-police interactions at different places at which police and public danced together as a way of fostering goodwill.
Advertisement
The response was said to be positive, so what happened to the files on that initiative? Surely they must still be there at the Police Headquarters? Could there be some lessons in those files for the present?
While we await the outcome of President Mahama’s call for an investigation, the Alliance has stated its intention to go to court over the police brutalities.
In the meantime, the example from South Africa is that it’s not every time that such police action will be tolerated without question – or repercussions.
Last month, it was reported in the international media that the families of the 37 striking miners killed in Marikana in 2012 are suing the South African government for compensation, even though in their case it wasn’t only the police who were found culpable. An investigation into the killings, headed by a judge, had cited UK-based firm Lonmin and also the unions.
Advertisement
There must be a lesson in that as well.