The Ghana Police Service has charged a protester for endangering the safety of a 12-year-old child during the recent Democracy Hub demonstration in Accra.
According to the police, 50-year-old Grace Asantewaa, who attended the protest with a 12-year-old girl, isn’t 68-years-old as earlier reported.
Following her arrest, the police allowed the child to accompany Asantewaa to the station to avoid separating them. Meanwhile, Asantewaa was later granted bail but has now been charged with exposing the child to danger under Section 71 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
This comes amidst reports that a 12-year-old child, a pregnant woman, and a 68-year-old woman were among those arrested during the protest.
The police, however, have denied these claims, calling them “false.”
Responding to the reports of a pregnant woman among those detained, the police clarified that the individual in question, identified as Gloria Vera Louise, showed no visible signs of pregnancy at the time of her arrest.
Additionally, neither Louise nor her lawyer informed authorities of any pregnancy.
Also, medical examinations conducted at both the Police Hospital and an independent facility later confirmed that she was not pregnant.
The police emphasized their commitment to upholding democratic rights while ensuring public safety, reiterating their call for protesters to exercise their rights within the confines of the law.