The Ghana Police Service has debunked circulating reports that a 12-year-old child, a pregnant woman, and a 68-year-old woman were among those arrested during the Democracy Hub protest at the 37 Intersection in Accra.
In a press statement, the police described these claims as “false” and sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
According to the statement, a 12-year-old child was not officially detained but was allowed to accompany a 50-year-old protester, Grace Asantewaa, to the police station to prevent separation.
Meanwhile, Asantewaa, who was later granted bail, has since been charged with exposing the child to danger by bringing her to the demonstration, a violation under section 71 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The police also addressed allegations of a pregnant woman being among the detained protesters.
They clarified that the woman in question, Gloria Vera Louise, showed no visible signs of pregnancy at the time of her arrest.
Moreover, neither Louise nor her legal representative informed the police or the court of any pregnancy.
To verify these claims, the police conducted thorough medical examinations at both the Police Hospital and an independent health facility.
The results of both tests confirmed that Louise was not pregnant.
These clarifications come in the wake of growing public concern over the handling of detainees during the protest.
The police assured the public that their actions were in line with upholding law and order while ensuring that no harm came to vulnerable individuals.
In their statement, the police reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding democratic freedoms, while also urging the public to avoid spreading false information that could mislead the public and tarnish the reputation of law enforcement.
Check out the statement below:
𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄:
𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 (𝟕) 𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐘 𝐇𝐔𝐁 pic.twitter.com/hnf2t28zCW
— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) September 26, 2024