Lockdown: Lawyer Sosu condemns assault on public

Human Rights lawyer, Francis-Xavier Sosu says there is no justification for the joint police and military personnel to unleash mayhem on persons who will breach the partial lockdown announced last week Friday.

The lawyer in an interview explained that there are provisions in the law which requires that such persons be prosecuted.

Lawyer Sosu said the persons who were assaulted could seek legal redress.

He was, however, quick to admonish the general to adhere to the directive to make the fight against the virus successful.

To him, we are not in normal times hence the need for Ghanaians to support the government in the fight against COVID-19.

The respect for the fundamental rights of Ghanaians he added must be obeyed even in crisis, like this and also in a state of an emergency.

We are not in war times. We are still practising democracy and not under a military rule.”

"Even in the face of a threat to the police and military, you have no right to abuse a suspect. There are procedures to follow to deal with such individuals,” he added.

Some persons were arrested in Kasoa in the Central Region for failing to give tangible reasons why they were in town during the Covid-19 partial lockdown on Monday.

The operation under the code name Operation Covid Safety is making sure all Ghanaians adhere to the directive for a partial lockdown.

Some essential service providers have been exempted from the exercise, food vendors, financial institutions among others are allowed to go about their normal activities.