Pregnant Protester Saga: Lawyer 'exposes' Ghana Police

A member of the legal team for the Democracy Hub protesters, Nelson Amedewonu, has contradicted claims made by the Ghana Police Service, refuting allegations that a pregnant woman was among the protesters remanded by the court.

The Ghana Police Service, in a statement released on September 26, 2024, clarified that a pregnancy test conducted twice on Gloria Vera Louise returned negative results, suggesting she is not pregnant.

“In the case of the alleged pregnant woman, Gloria Vera Louise, we would like to clarify that at the time of the arrest, there was no visible indication that she was pregnant. Additionally, at no point during the arrest or subsequent interactions did the said suspect inform the Police of a pregnancy. Again, there was no communication to the court of any such condition, either by herself or through her lawyers.

“In order to establish the veracity or otherwise of the claim in the public domain of the alleged pregnancy, the Police took the initiative and sent her to the Police Hospital and an independent health facility for a thorough medical examination. Both medical results came out negative, suggesting that Gloria Vera Louise, is not pregnant as claimed,” the police statement said.

However, in response to the police statement on JoyNews on September 27, 2024, Nelson Amedewonu stated that the woman approached the legal team after the court proceedings, revealing her pregnancy to the lawyers.

He further added that the police have concealed the woman's location from them, making her whereabouts unknown.

“We got to know that the woman was pregnant after the proceedings because the police did not give us adequate time to have conference with our client. As at now we don’t even know the station at which they are keeping the lady so we got to know just after the proceedings that this woman is four months pregnant.,” he said.

The legal practitioner also disclosed the efforts they are making to secure bail for the woman.

“We are going through the proceedings to make sure that we get back to the court for the court to vary her bail condition. At that time the ink of the judge had dried so there is no way we can go back to the court for them [court] to vary her bail condition.”

Despite the police's claims that the victim did not inform them of her pregnancy, Nelson Amedewonu refuted this, stating that the woman did notify the policemen of her condition, insinuating that the police may not have been truthful in their statement.

“I’ve been reliably informed by her that she informed the policemen that she is pregnant so they were aware before coming to the court. They were aware that she is pregnant.

“Do you believe the police who came to court to say that they have been providing their inmates with papaye whiles we all know that they haven’t been providing them with food from papaye not even water so do you believe such a police service or the lawyer or the lady herself,” he quizzed.

When asked by the host if he asserts that the police lied, he responded affirmatively, saying, “that is so.”

The three-day protest, themed #OccupyJulorbiHouse and #StopGalamsey, took a different turn on the second day when protesters blocked roads around the 37 intersection in Accra, obstructing traffic.

They removed police blockades, burned party paraphernalia, and took keys from a police van in an attempt to prevent the police from towing away their food truck.

They have since been charged by the prosecution with unlawful assembly and breach of peace, among other offenses.

MAG/EK