Organizer of the “Hands Off Our Hotels” demonstration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has condemned the Police action meted out against demonstrators during the protest on Tuesday.
He says the Police will be held accountable should anything happen to the demonstrators who were affected by the police’s decision on the use of tear gas.
To him the protest was peaceful and the demonstrators conducted themselves as such there was no need for the police to resort to using tear gas and water cannons.
“Let me condemn what the police did, this is a peaceful march, our people conducted themselves well so why do you fire tear gas on innocent civilians? Now we have to rush a few to the hospital?
“The Police will be held accountable if anything happens to them. They can’t take the law into their own hands and intimidate innocent citizens.”
According to him, the affected protestors were rushed to the hospital as they required medical attention due to the tear gas thrown at them by the police.
“Some of the demonstrators have been rushed to the hospital. If anything happens to any demonstrators we will hold the Police accountable,” he stressed.
The “Hands Off Our Hotels” demonstrators were stopped midway through their march towards the Jubilee house where the organizers planned to deliver their petition.
However, a sudden decision by the police prevented the protesters from reaching their intended destination and halted the march towards the Jubilee House which is the seat of the government.
Meanwhile, the 15-point petition has been presented to government.
The protestors are demanding that the government immediately halt the sale of four hotels owed by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to the owner of the Rock City Hotel and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong.
Presenting the petition, the lead convener, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said “…We hereby make the following demands: We call on President Akufo-Addo to immediately stop the sale of our SSNIT hotels. We take the view that state assets should not be sold, especially profitable ones. Historically, since 1966, the sale of state assets has not been in the supreme interest of Ghana, and we, therefore, cannot continue on this destructive trajectory.
“In any case, the government should not sell state properties without the consent of all Ghanaians. It is wrong, immoral, and unethical for ministers and government officials to buy state assets. President Akufo-Addo must not preside over this detestable and dangerous practice.
“Particularly, when he assured this country that his appointees who want to make money through sch transactions should rather stay in the private sector,” he stated.
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Source: Aba Aikins/ATLFMNEWS
