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'Double standards!' - Netizens 'roast' Akufo-Addo over his old tweet against police brutalities on protesters

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo Akufo Addo1212 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 Source: www.ghanaweb.com

An old tweet by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo regarding police brutalities against unarmed citizens exercising their constitutional rights to protest has resurfaced.

The tweet, made by the official handle of the president on September 17, 2015, on X (formerly Twitter), during his campaign for the 2016 presidency, resurfaced following the arrest and alleged police brutalities against Democracy Hub protesters.

"Brute force by the police against unarmed citizens exercising their constitutional rights, shd be a thing of the past. #NewVotersRegisterNow," his tweet read.

The Ghana Police Service arrested 43 individuals, including the lead convener of Democracy Hub, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, for their alleged involvement in lawless acts during a three-day protest dubbed #OccupyJulorbiHouse and #StopGalamsey.

The protesters aimed to highlight the menace of illegal mining polluting several river bodies in parts of the country, as well as issues of bad governance and the economic hardships under the ruling government.

Day 1 of the protests proceeded smoothly without any acts of violence; however, Day 2 was marred by violence and police brutality.

Footages showed protesters being carried away by the police, including the arrest of minors after they allegedly blocked the roads around the 37 Roundabout, obstructing traffic.

Subsequently, Oliver Barker-Vormawor was seen removing and pushing down police barriers, as well as taking keys from a police tow truck after they attempted to tow away a minivan belonging to the protesters that housed their food and water.

Following the resurfacing of President Akufo-Addo's tweet, netizens have criticised him, stating that as a human rights activist, he has double standards for curtailing citizens' rights to protest under his regime while previously condemning the same treatment meted out to protesters by the police when he was in opposition.

Some netizens have described him as a tyrant for preventing citizens from exercising their constitutional rights.

One user said, "Lol Akufo-Addo tyranny is hilarious, in hindsight. Did the exact same things he spoke against. #ReoccuppyJulorbiHouse."

Another added," Same script, this time he's the oppressor Problem is, we keep doing the same things and expecting diff results If I tell people Ghana has no hope, dem no dey barb."

Why Akufo-Addo made that tweet in 2015

In September 2015, political pressure groups comprising the Alliance for Accountable Governance, Let My Vote Count, and the New Patriotic Party embarked on a demonstration under the Mahama-led government, mounting pressure on the Electoral Commission (EC) to create a new voters' register ahead of the 2016 general elections.

The demonstration turned violent when the protesters reached the Holy Spirit Cathedral. Attempting to veer off the approved route and head toward the office of the Electoral Commission, they clashed with the police.

The police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them while arresting tens of them.

Several of the protestors suffered various degrees of injuries, with some still nursing their injuries to date.

Read some of the tweets below;



















MAG/AE
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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