Pedestrians unhappy with security arrangements at Supreme Court

Scores of pedestrians on the Professor John Evans Atta Mills High-street in Accra on Monday expressed concern over the security arrangements around the Supreme Court.

The Ghana Police Service has mounted barricades at strategic locations with well-equipped anti-riot personnel patrolling the environs of the Supreme Court where the election petition hearing is going on.

Some of the pedestrians who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) described the decision of the Police to re-direct pedestrian’s movement in front of the Supreme Court as disaffection.

Madam Gladys Akyeame said the security arrangement is impeding movement in the area; “we are restricted from using the pavement in front of the court…you have to cross over the other side”.

She said pedestrians are always directed to rather use the pavement in front of the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and it is sometimes dangerous when they are crossing the busy road from the pavement in front of the Supreme Court.

She appealed to the police to allow pedestrians to use both pavements but not to be restricted to only one side of the road which according to her was causing dissatisfaction.

Mr Paul Obeng expressed reservation about the mode of operation of the Police, alleging that some of the police personnel molest pedestrians who ignorantly used the pavement in front of the Supreme Court.

He said “most pedestrians who used the pavement in front of the Supreme Court are not treated fairly by the Police,” adding that, the Police should politely re-direct pedestrians and stop shouting at them.

Meanwhile, the premises of the Supreme Court was calm as it continued to hear the petition filed by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party; and two others.

The others are Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, NPP Election 2012 running mate and Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, NPP National Chairman.

The respondents in the case are President John Dramani Mahama, the Electoral Commission and the National Democratic Congress.