Arrest, prosecute offenders - Mass Action Committee
Political pressure group, the Mass Action Committee (MAC), has called for the arrest and prosecution of persons who abuse the law regulating the restriction of movements order.
It has also suggested the creation of an Escrow account for fines exacted on culprits to be paid into so it could be used to support the government’s fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
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In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr Atik Mohammed, it reiterated the need for Ghanaians to observe the restriction of movement directives in order to slow down and break the chain of spread of COVID 19.
Rights abuse
It also noted with concern reports of the abuse of the rights of those who flouted the restriction of movement directives.
It pointed out that it was to deal with persons who abused the directives that laws were enacted to govern the process, citing “the Imposition of Restrictions Act 2020, Act 1012, and the corresponding Imposition of Restrictions Coronavirus Disease (COVID 19) Pandemic (No.2) Instrument, EI 65”.
It said it was to ensure compliance that the authorities deployed security personnel, saying that the deployment did not suggest that security officers could resort to the use of extralegal means in dealing with suspected offenders.
It, therefore, called on the security personnel to use the law to its full effect in dealing with people who flout the restriction laws.
Unpleasant history
The statement said the country could not be fighting the crisis by creating a tragedy of human rights abuses.
“Our history is punctuated with unpleasant experiences of civilian brutalities by men in uniform who had little regard for people’s rights. We cannot allow a return to that chapter even if it is in the name of fighting COVID 19,” it said.
