THE Accra High Court (Human Rights Division 2) has ruled that the Ghana Police Service violated the rights of Bridget Otoo, a broadcast journalist and two others during the #Occupy JulorbiHouse protest in Accra on September 12, 2023.
It has, therefore, reprimanded the conduct of the service which constitutes flagrant abuse of Otoo and others, and ordered it to offer an apology to the victims and publish same in the print media.
The Presiding Judge, Nana Brew, also made consequential orders, including granting all reliefs sought by the applicants and awarded compensatory damages of GH¢100,000, general damages of GH¢50,000, and legal costs of GH¢30,000.
Ms Otoo caused her counsel to file a civil action against the Ghana Police Service for the brutality she suffered at the hands of the police personnel who were constitutionally mandated to protect her rights and those of others at any given time.
Justice Brew said that he was hopeful that the leadership of the Ghana Police Service, under the new Inspector General of Police, would prioritise the protection of the rights of journalists and the general public.
The court found that officers of the Ghana Police Service engaged in unconstitutional conduct, including physical assault, unlawful detention and interference with journalistic activity during the demonstration.
According to the judgment, Bridget Otoo was assaulted by police officers during the protest, with her blouse allegedly ripped apart in the process.
The court also found that Vanessa Edotom Boateng was unlawfully detained and had her phone seized to prevent her from recording acts of police brutality.
George Gyening Anyang, another applicant, was said to have been assaulted while live streaming events at the regional police station.
The #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest, organised in September 2023, drew national attention over issues of governance, economic hardship and police handling of demonstrators.
The demonstration led to several arrests and sparked criticism from civil society groups, media freedom advocates and human rights organisations over alleged police excesses.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
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