Sammy Gyamfi, the national communications officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, has urged the Ghana Police Service to detain him in connection with the altercation between law enforcement officials and Arise Ghana protestors.
Sammy Gyamfi, a prominent member of the Arise Ghana organisation, declared on Metro TV's "Good Morning Ghana" show on June 30 that he would surrender himself in if the police invited him to do so.
He called the altercation regrettable but said that it may have been averted if the cops had not followed "orders from above."
He said that the Arise Ghana leadership was not to fault for the altercation since their actions did not endanger the public and that they would be exonerated if the police decided to arrest them.
His remark follows the delivery of a notice by the Ghana Police Service ordering the arrest of the Arise Ghana group's leaders and their subsequent arraignment in court.
"...you might have avoided these tragic encounters if you had been professional, honest, and devoted to the state rather than loyal to a political party and politicians.
And now they're threatening to detain some of us. Since then, I've phoned them and let them know I'm just a phone call away. They should call me if they want to take me into custody. My conscience is clear, therefore I will go get them to arrest me even if they want to handcuff me.
No matter where they take this matter, he added, "I know that none of us, as leaders of Arise Ghana, did anything during this process [of the rally] to compromise the Public Order or public safety. At the end of the day, we will be vindicated."
In a press release signed by Chief Superintendent Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Police gave notice that the Arise Ghana demonstration's organisers will be detained and later charged in court.
According to the police, this holds them accountable for the altercation in accordance with Section 3 of the Public Order Act (Act 491), which imposes liability on protest organisers and other participants.
Part of the statement said, "The organisers of the demonstration will be detained and brought before court for the assaults and damage to public property, in accordance with the terms of Section 3 of the Public Order Act, (Act 491)."
Arise On June 28, the first day of their two-day march against escalating economic hardship, Ghanaian protesters thronged the streets.
However, there was an uproar as police sprayed tear gas at demonstrators while accusing them of throwing stones at them. Multiple reports claim that there was misunderstanding about the best way to go when the pandemonium broke out.
The protestors attempted to push their way via Ring Road from Kwame Nkrumah Circle to the Jubilee House despite police orders that they cannot utilise that route.