Even though the #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration was meant to protest against their government, some members of the ruling NPP have expressed concern about the treatment of the protestors by the Ghana Police Service.

These leading members of the NPP believe the police went overboard with how they handled the situation.

According to the National Communications Director of the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah, even though he disagrees with the caption of the demonstration, the protestors have the right to register their displeasure adding that that right to peaceful demonstration is safeguarded by the 1992 Constitution.

In an X (Twitter) post on Thursday, the Director of Communication of the NPP stressed that the decision by the police to prevent the protest and go ahead to arrest them is unacceptable.

“The ability of the people to demonstrate is an inherent democratic right. Therefore, the decision to stand in the way of citizens’ exercise of this fundamental right is unacceptable,” part of Richard Ahiagbah’s tweet said.

He continued, “I don’t agree with the derogatory caption of the Presidency by the organizers of the demonstration, but impeding their right to peaceful assembly is an affront to democracy–plain and simple. There have been several peaceful demonstrations under President Akufo-Addo–the Arise Ghana demo, the Kume Preko Demo, and others. Why now? The leadership of the Ghana Police Service must intervene to stop this poor development. This is not the publicity we need on a day such as this…Allow!”

The ability of the people to demonstrate is an inherent democratic right. Therefore, the decision to stand in the way of citizens' exercise of this fundamental right is unacceptable. I don't agree with the derogatory caption of the Presidency by the organizers of the…

— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) September 21, 2023

Another staunch member of the party, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Akosua Manu has also expressed her disappointment in the Ghana Police Service.

The member of the NPP’s Communications Team cannot fathom why the police will brutally manhandle protestors who are exercising their democratic rights.

She explains that whether there is an injunction on the demonstration or not, the police do not have the right to maltreat the protestors the way they did.

In a social media post, she also noted that, “Injunction or not, the police cannot treat young protestors in this manner. To protest is a right enshrined under the Constitution and the legitimacy of a protest is not dependent on the cause. IGP Dampare, respectfully establish democratic order and safeguard the rights of the protestors.”

Injunction or not, the police cannot treat young protestors in this manner. To protest is a right enshrined under the Constitution and the legitimacy of a protest is not dependent on the cause. IGP Dampare, respectfully establish democratic order and safeguard the rights of the…

— Akosua Manu (@KozieOzie) September 21, 2023

Democracy Hub, the organizers of the protest, said the demonstration was to press home their demand for a reduction in the cost of living, an end to corruption, and improved governance, among others.

But during the early hours of Thursday, September 21, the police took into custody 49 demonstrators, alleging they had indulged in an unlawful assembly and violation of the Public Order Act.

The police noted that the arrested persons disregarded court documents served on the organizers, Democracy Hub, to refrain from embarking on the planned demonstration.