The Minority in Parliament has decided to reschedule their planned Occupy Bank of Ghana demonstration.
Initially slated for Tuesday, September 5, it will now take place on Tuesday, September 12.
This change comes in response to a court adjournment regarding the police’s injunction application against their protest, scheduled for Friday, September 8.
Demands and Objectives
In a press statement issued by NDC MPs, led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, they emphasized their commitment to holding the protest march.
Their primary objective is to call for the resignation of Governor Ernest Addison and his two deputies due to alleged mismanagement of the Central Bank.
They claim this mismanagement has resulted in a significant loss of GHS60.8 billion and a negative equity of GH¢55.1 billion.
Additionally, they accuse the bank of illegal printing of over GHS80 billion and overspending on a new head office construction project, initially recommended at $81 million but now costing over $250 million.
Appeal to the Public
The statement calls on Ghanaians to stand firm in defense of their constitutional right to demonstrate and assures them that the march to the Bank of Ghana Head Office will proceed on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
The Caucus reaffirms that the planned route remains unchanged.
Postponement and Police Concerns
The postponement is attributed to a court hearing for an injunction filed by the Ghana Police Service on Wednesday, August 30, against the protest march.
Originally planned to start on September 5, the march aimed to proceed from Makola, through Rawlings Park and Opera Square to the frontage of the Bank of Ghana head office in Accra.
However, the police expressed concerns about potential disruptions due to congestion in that area.
Alternative Route Proposal and Legal Dispute
The police suggested an alternative route starting from Parliament House through the Osu Cemetery Traffic Light to Independence Square, which the minority rejected.
In court, the MPs, led by NDC’s Director of Legal Affairs, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, argued that only the Attorney General has the authority, as per Article 88(5) of the 1992 Constitution and the State Proceedings Act, to propose alternative routes for demonstrations.
Court’s Decision
The court has set Friday, September 8, as the date to rule on the Greater Accra Regional Police Command’s injunction application.
