President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
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;
Lol Akufo-Addo tyranny is hilarious, in hindsight. Did the exact same things he spoke against. #ReoccuppyJulorbiHouse https://t.co/0wzLCQXTMZ
— Kplørla (@PrettyBoyKely) September 23, 2024
Same script, this time he’s the oppressor
— Theo Bortier MD 🇬🇭 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 (@shooterdee) September 24, 2024
Problem is, we keep doing the same things and expecting diff results
If I tell people Ghana has no hope, dem no dey barb https://t.co/TRi0cI01vd
Human rights lawyer, very strict, no nonsense man, even Kuffour and his ministers were afraid of him s33 na 3y3 settings 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/IZGkBvpvGJ
— Lee Kuan Yew (Mula) 🥋 (@BoatengOsei_B) September 23, 2024
Congratulations, you are the worst president in the history of Ghana. https://t.co/81etZU0wRB
— foundational Black Fantsenyi🇬🇭 (@SamKwasiBoateng) September 23, 2024
i don't want god to punish you. i need you and your people to suffer on earth now you low tier demon https://t.co/w2fKdlnx2M
— h0tstuff.com☆ (@finalgurl77) September 23, 2024
In 2015, you condemned police brutality against unarmed citizens and called for the protection of constitutional rights. Now, as President your administration is guilty of using the same “brute force” against peaceful protesters. Where is the change? You’ve become the very… https://t.co/URSom1FMur
— Toworfe Emmanuel Kwaku (@kwaku_toworfe) September 23, 2024
Another reminder that our police has always been the tool weilded by those in power......
It's not new its well documented.
So many times in Africa we need good men to lead or else we fail. But men are not good.We need strong institutions https://t.co/F58u4Z9Pkq
— Enoch Δ (@agyeitah) September 23, 2024
everything you spoke against is happening under your stewardship https://t.co/D8dBlpuEig
— Black Fulani (@swayekidd_) September 23, 2024
Today you are against an audit! #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse https://t.co/zrZbwVUYLZ
— Bee (@Bridget_Otoo) September 23, 2024
It’s not lost on me that we’re living through atrocities under a man who fought for all these freedoms. 9 years later we see how it was all smoke screens & you wonder why we don’t respect you. what is there to respect? couldn’t be a man of your own word. but you want respect? smh https://t.co/dNbt7OLrt2
— peace nyalɛmɛgbe 🙂 (@AmaMarley_) September 23, 2024
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