The leadership of the Minority caucus in Parliament has taken a defiant stance against the police’s proposed alternative routes for their upcoming “Occupy BoG” protest.
This demonstration is aimed at demanding the resignation of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison and his two deputies.
The recent development with the anticipated protest comes after a meeting held on Wednesday, August 23, where the police suggested alternative routes for the protest scheduled for September 5.
Deputy Minority leader, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, addressing the press following the meeting, asserted that they intended to proceed with their initially proposed routes for the protest. Their plan was to commence the demonstration from the front of Parliament, leading to the Bank of Ghana headquarters via a specific route, including various key locations including the Ministry of Finance, High Court Complex through to Rawlings Park and the Opera Square to the Bank of Ghana to present their petition.
However, the police expressed concerns regarding the routes proposed by the Minority, emphasizing potential risks to public order and safety. Additionally, they were keen to ensure that the protest did not disrupt traffic flow.
The police, therefore, recommended an alternative route, suggesting that the Minority should assemble at Obra Spot, proceed through Circle, Adabraka road, and eventually reach Independence Square via Cedi House.
Despite these suggestions, the Deputy Minority Leader remained resolute, declaring that they would adhere to their originally proposed routes for the demonstration. He further emphasized that their planned route was shorter than the alternative proposed by the police.
“So far as we are concerned, the routes that we have proposed are the routes that we are going to use. The Police of course discussed alternatives but we insisted that the routes that we have proposed are the routes we are going to use. That is why we are saying that we haven’t accepted any alternative arrangement,” he stressed.
He expressed confidence in the police service’s ability to manage the demonstration, highlighting that they have handled more complex routes for protests in the past.
He also questioned the rationale behind the police’s concerns, comparing the route to the Bank of Ghana headquarters to the previously used route leading to the Flagstaff House, the President’s official residence.
“The most strategic and important national security installation is the office of the President… If you can demonstrate up to the frontage of the Flagstaff House, how is it that you cannot march to the frontage of the Bank of Ghana – Head office building?” he posed.
This comes after the group in response to what they perceive as the reckless management of the central bank and the GHC60 billion losses incurred in its 2022 financial report, the Minority issued a 21-day ultimatum to Dr. Ernest Addison, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, and his deputies, to resign.