The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has compromised on the routes proposed by the police for its Occupy Bank of Ghana (BoG) protest on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, in order to press home its demands for the resignation of the BoG Governor and his two deputies.
The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi said that the police had been “unreasonable” with the routes, but the NDC had compromised in the interest of public order and safety.
The protest is being organised by the Minority Caucus in Parliament and other pressure groups who are against the continued stay of office of the BoG governor, Dr. Ernest Addison and his two deputies.
The group is demanding that the Central Bank’s governor and his deputies resign over GH¢60 billion loss the bank recorded in the 2022 fiscal year as well as the controversial new head office project of the central bank.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi, told journalists at a presser in Accra on Monday that the protesters were expected to converge at the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle and proceed to Adabraka – Ridge Roundabout – National Theatre Traffic Light -High Court Complex Traffic Light – Attah Mills Highway and make a U-Turn at the National Lottery Authority and terminate at the Independence Square.
But Mr Gyamfi in an interview with reporters said “They [police] have been very unreasonable on the routes but in the interest of public order and public safety and because we want to embark on this peaceful demonstration to press home our demands, we had compromises which we have agreed to. So on Tuesday, the demonstration is coming on.”
In the interim, the GPS has also assured that it is adequately prepared and has enough contingents to deploy for the #OccupyBoGProtest.
ACP Ansah-Akrofi said the police have prepared and trained adequately for the protest.
“We have an adequate number of police officers for tomorrow’s demonstration and I will want to urge every member of the public that wants to come for the protest to show up tomorrow because we have enough men to provide security throughout the length of the demonstration, and we will be there throughout.”
