President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, believes the police overacted in arresting the Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, and some 18 other persons for converging to embark on a peace march in Accra.
According to him, the action of the police was likely to attract negative media attention to the country.
The 19 persons including Bernard Mornah, were arrested by the Nima Police on Saturday morning when they gathered as members of the Ghana-Togo Solidarity Movement to hold a peaceful march to draw the attention of local and international authorities to the political crisis in Togo.
According to the Police, they had earlier permitted Bernard Mornah and his group, to undertake the peace march, however, they informed him later to cancel it due to operational challenges, and intelligence that another group was trying to interrupt their activity.
But Mr. Mornah denied the claim, saying that he assured the police that the peaceful march required very little police presence and that the march could not be postponed because of the resources invested into its preparation.
Franklin Cudjoe, who commended Bernard Mornah and the group for the initiative said he believed their action was “harmless” and did not warrant the police’s action.
“I’ve seen a circular Bernard has sent around for this particular programme and I thought it was really harmless. They have been trying to raise issues about international oppression and all that.
I think these are commendable as far as these people are bringing attention to oppression from afar and in this case, so close to us [Togo]. I think the police overreacted. They could have just allowed them. The challenge is that this thing will hit the international wires,” Franklin Cudjoe remarked.
Meanwhile, Bernard Mornah, who was granted bail after hours of being kept behind police counter without explanation of his offense, has indicated that he will drag the police to court for violation of his human rights.
Story: Elizabeth Amarfio
Writer’s Email: elizabeth.amarfio@todaygh.com