Don't be used to impede on rights- Gabby tells Police

Lawyer for the leaders of the Let My Vote Count Alliance, Gabby Otchere Darko has advised the police not to accept to be used to impede on the fundamental human rights of the men and women of the alliance.

“I hope this is the end of the matter. The police should not be used to stop these men and women from exercising their freedom and rights; rights to free speech and right to assemble,” he stated.

The Madina Police invited the leaders of the group for questioning over a rally they organised at Dome about a week ago.

According to the Police, the leaders failed to inform them about the said event.

Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News, Mr. Otchere Darko said even though the police did not ask the leaders to come back after a few days, he would advise them [leaders] to go if they are called upon.

“They did not ask them to come back later but I am sure they will have a discussion and may probably call them back. When they are called, I advise them to go but that doesn’t mean they have to say anything when they get to the police station,” he said.

Gabby Otchere Darko further disclosed, “I see this organization as a necessary window to allow the ventilation of pent-up feelings that people have; and to try to shut that window will perhaps even cause more problems than they anticipated so it is important that the young people behind this group are allowed to do things and do it lawfully.”

On Friday, the group wrote a letter to the Divisional Commander at Koforidua informing them about a public forum they were going to hold but the police refused because they [police] wanted to know who the speakers for the occasion were.

Mr. Otchere Darko however refuted their argument saying: “the group was under no obligation to give the names of the speakers and eventually, the police said they got it wrong and therefore the programme could go on.”

Mr. Otchere further advised those trying to push the police to prevent the members of the alliance from exercising their rights to “calm down”.

“Those who are trying to push the police to do these things should calm down and allow these young people who are frustrated and unhappy with the electoral system to find a legitimate means of venting their spleen.”

Earlier, the Deputy Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammy Awuku and other leaders of the group, Let My Vote Count Alliance were granted bail by the Madina police.