Dozens of protestors at the ‘Hands Off Our Hotels’ demonstration have suffered various degrees of injury.
Four of them reportedly received first aid treatment from the ambulance service after police used pepper spray on them during the Tuesday protest.
This incident occurred when the police changed the termination point of the demonstration from the Christ The King Catholic Church, near Jubilee House, at the last minute.
According to reports, when the police forcibly prevented the crowd from advancing, some of the protesters threw sachet water at them.
In the heat of the moment, some officers deployed pepper spray, leading to injuries among several individuals.
Tear gas was also employed at one point to disperse the growing crowd.
Former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, criticised the police for their conduct.
“Why were the police throwing tear gas at this time? Why did they want to scatter a peaceful protest that had come to a climax as if they planned to do this,” he said.
He indicated that “The IGP must wake up from his slumber” adding that “that unprofessionalism by the Ghana Police must cease.”
The hugely successful protest was aimed at piling pressure on President Akufo-Addo to halt the sale of the Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort and two other hotels to Rock City Hotel, which is owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong.
Convener of the protest, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa argues that the sale of state-owned properties to government officials constitutes a clear abuse of power that should not be tolerated.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
