Parliament security stop one man demonstrator

Parliament’s security personnel on Thursday stopped a man who was demonstrating at the car park of Parliament House against government for allegedly granting scholarships to lovers, family members and government operatives over the past six years.

Mr Prosper Yaw Tsikata, a Doctor of Philosophy student and a lecturer at Ohio University in the US, said for six years he carried out a research on the number of scholarships granted and realized that they were given to such persons.

He carried a placard which read; “stop offering Ghana government scholarships to lovers, family members and party operatives now.”

Mr Tsikata told the GNA that he arrived from the US this morning and marched straight with his petition and placard to Parliament House.

He said he had communicated to the Inspector General of Police about his intentions to stage a one man demonstration to Parliament where he would present a petition to the Speaker.

However the security said they were not informed about his coming and would not allow him to go ahead.

Mr Francis Dakurah, the Member of parliament for Jirapa , intervened and asked the security to allow him to follow due process and was taken to see the Clerk.

Mr Tsikata said the Public Order Act enjoins him to serve the police with a notice before carrying out his demonstration but if they saw reason to stop him, the police had to inform him. He said, since he sent his letter to the IGP, he never received any such reply stopping him.

He said the police could go to court and get an injunction.

Mr Dakurah however told him that, because he was doing it in a restricted area, that was why he was being prevented from getting to the House and asked the security to take him to the Clerk.

Mr Tsikata said he had presented the petition to the Public Affairs Director, Mr Jones Kuglenu, and was expecting a reply.**