Police to block Organised Labour’s demo if…

The Ghana Police Service has hinted that a final option of going to the law courts and applying for an injunction on the nationwide demonstration by Organised Labour is available to them if its plea to have that action organized on regional basis is not heeded to.

According to the Service, a “mass” group such as Organised Labour understaffs it to offer adequate protection for a nationwide, concurrent demonstration.

“We don’t expect to get to the bridge where they decide against all reason to go ahead,” remarked the Head of the Service’s Public Affairs Directorate, DSP Cephas Arthur, “but should they do so and are not taking our concerns into consideration and will cause mayhem, we have the last option to seek an injunction.”

The Deputy Superintendent of Police was speaking on TV3’s News@10 on Monday, July 21.

He stated, however, that the police is confident Organised Labour will heed to their call to embark on the demonstration in bits and, therefore, that final option is not being thought of.

Organised Labour announced last Friday that as per the rising cost of living in the country given hikes in transport fares and utility tariffs, it will hit the streets on Thursday, July 24 to register its disapproval.

“It is difficult for police to provide protection for a nationwide demonstration by Organised Labour on the same day,” DSP Arthur told our reporter.

He said the police usually call for reinforcement from other regions during demonstrations and for Organised Labour’s to be staged nationwide concurrently could strain personnel of the Service.

“We are not against the demonstration. We are only appealing to the conscience of Organised Labour that if they will be able to organize the demonstrations on regional basis on different days, we are able to provide protection.”