The Ghana Police Service has denied allegations from the lawyers of individuals involved in the Democracy Hub demonstration, asserting that their clients were coerced into re-enacting the protest at the 37 Intersection as part of the investigation.
This response follows reports that some of the detained individuals were compelled to return to the intersection for a reconstruction of the events that occurred on Sunday, September 22.
In a statement released by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Grace Ansah-Akrofi on Monday, October 7, the Police clarified that these claims are false and detailed the procedures undertaken during the crime scene reconstruction.
The Police explained that crime scene reconstruction is a standard investigative practice used by law enforcement agencies globally.
“Crime scene reconstruction is a recognized procedure in investigations, employed by law enforcement agencies around the world, and adheres to our established protocols. The Ghana Police Service has utilized this method for many years.
“The detectives involved in the reconstruction were among those who have been working on this case from the beginning. Thus, the assertion that they are unfamiliar to the accused individuals is incorrect.
“In line with standard procedures, the accused were informed of their right to legal representation during the reconstruction. Some chose to participate without their lawyers present, while others insisted on having their lawyers, and the reconstruction for those individuals is yet to occur. Therefore, it is untrue that they were coerced or threatened to partake in the reconstruction.
“The public may recall that there have been various attempts to spread misinformation about this incident, including false claims regarding the arrest of a 12-year-old child and a pregnant woman, all aimed at creating public distrust towards the Police.
We regard this as another such attempt and encourage the public to disregard it,” the statement read.
The Democracy Hub, a pressure group, held a three-day demonstration from September 21 to September 23, 2024, in response to growing concerns over illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
While intended to be a peaceful protest, it escalated into violence when some demonstrators clashed with the police and obstructed traffic at the 37 Intersection in Accra.
This confrontation resulted in the arrest of over 50 protesters.
