REGSEC urges public to abide by Public Order Law

Accra, June 16, GNA - The Greater Accra Regional Security Council on Thursday reminded the public to follow due process and abide by the Public Order Law before embarking on any demonstration when it becomes absolutely necessary to do so.

It has, therefore, directed the security agencies to take necessary measures to deal decisively with any person who would take the law into his or her own hands.

However, the REGSEC assured the public that adequate security had been provided to ensure that peace was maintained in the region. In a statement issued in Accra, the REGSEC expressed concern about the spate of demonstrations in the Accra Metropolis at the least opportunity by various interest groups.

It said: 93In as much as the right to demonstrate as a way of registering public protest against certain acts of commission or omission on the part of public officials or government is permissible under our laws, the frequency with which this tool is employed has become a matter of concern to peace loving citizens." "Apart from the fact that it places extra burden on the Police Service to provide security for the demonstrators, some organisers of demonstrations even disregard the requirement to notify the Police at least five days before embarking on such demonstrations." The statement said this had resulted in those demonstrations affecting the free movement of pedestrians and motorists thereby disrupting economic activities in the metropolis. It said it was even more worrying whenever the demonstrations degenerated into violence when the demonstrators reneged on the agreements reached with the Police on the modalities and the prescribed routes for the demonstrations.

Innocent citizens become victims of the resultant lawlessness and this sends wrong signals to the investor community, it added. 16 June 11