The Northern Regional Police Command was on Thursday, April 27 forced to grant bail to 11 supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Sagnerigu Constituency who were picked up on the evening of Wednesday for engaging in unlawful demonstration.
The 11 were among some supporters who burnt car tyres at the Tamale Sports Stadium Roundabout in protest against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s nominee of Chief Executive for the Sagnerigu District.
The act, police revealed, is against the law as the protestors prevented other road users from usage of the road; hence the arrests.
The Command also revealed that the 11 will be arraigned before court.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP Patrick Adusei Sarpong, told 3news.com that demonstrations should be staged within the ambits of law.
“We don’t have a problem with people demonstrating because it’s their right but to go ahead and block roads, burn tyres and destroy other public property, we will not tolerate that because the road after that incident would have some defects.”
While 3news.com was with ACP Patrick Adusei Sarpong, a call came in from the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu, demanding the release of the men.
Though the men had already been released, they refused to write a statement, hoping the call could effect their total freedom.
But ACP Adusei Sarpong got them to write the statement to have them processed for court.
This event, the Commander says, impedes their mandate, adding that whiles some interferences may be helpful, others paint dark pictures for the Region.
“Some of the interference is diplomatic and helps, for instance, yesterday at Savelugu during the unrest, some executives from the NPP approached and advised we leave the scene assuring us that everything would be normal.
“We did leave the scene, returned in an hour only to find a deserted area, which means the protesters would have stayed longer with our presence, expecting us to provide security for them though their actions were unlawful.
“But some of the interferences, you the media has to help educate and sensitize the public to make them aware their actions impedes on the mandate of the police to provide absolute security for residents,” he added.
By Zubaida Ismail|3news.com|Ghana