Ghana Police Approves Protest by Minority Caucus, Designates Routes

The Ghana Police Service has officially granted approval for the Minority Caucus in Parliament to proceed with their demonstration against the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and his deputies, scheduled for Tuesday, October 3, 2023. In preparation for the protest, the police have outlined the specific routes that protesters are to follow.

Addressing journalists on October 2, ahead of the planned protest, ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, announced that demonstrators are expected to gather at the Obra Spot located at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. From there, they will proceed through the following route: Obra Spot – Circle – Adabraka – Ridge Roundabout – National Theatre Traffic Light – High Court Complex Traffic Light – Attah Mills Highway. The route will then make a U-Turn at the National Lottery Authority before terminating at Independence Square.

The police service has assured that it will deploy a sufficient number of officers to maintain peace and security throughout the duration of the protest. Additionally, specific roads have been designated for temporary closure during the demonstration.

The section of road from Independence Square in front of the National Lottery Authority to the Old Parliament Traffic Light will be temporarily blocked to vehicular traffic during the exercise. Diverted routes will direct traffic through the Starlet Traffic Light, Ministries Traffic Light, in front of the Office of the Department of Urban Roads, through the National Lottery Authority, and ultimately connect with the AMA office Road to EOCO before returning to the John Evans Atta Mills Highway at the Old Parliament Traffic Light intersection.

The Ghana Police Service, in its press conference, emphasized its commitment to working collaboratively with the Minority to ensure a peaceful and orderly protest. The police also advised journalists who will be covering the protest to carry proper identification to facilitate their movement during the event.

The protest has faced several postponements due to disputes between the police and the Minority Caucus regarding the designated routes. The Minority is organizing the demonstration to demand the resignation of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and his deputies following the Bank’s reported GH¢60.81 billion loss in the 2022 fiscal year and the allocation of over $250 million for the construction of a new headquarters for the central bank.