NDC cannot be denied right to protest – Edudzi Tamakloe

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A member of the opposition National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) legal team, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe says the party will cannot be stopped from exercising its right to protest against the conduct and outcome of the 2020 general elections.

The Accra Regional Police Command in a statement issued on Wednesday, December 23, 2020, indicated that it has secured a restraining order against the NDC, banning it from embarking on further protests and demonstrations in Accra.

But Speaking on the Eyewitness News, Mr. Tamakloe indicated that the party is yet to be served with the said restraining order and as such sees no reason why it should panic.

“At least the NDC has been courteous enough to write to the Ghana Police Service.  The NDC has not been served with any process, be it originating or a writ action purporting that the court has restrained the party from further protests. From what we are hearing, it could be that the police command went behind us, whether in open court or whatever, and are now claiming they have an order restraining the NDC from engaging in its constitutional right.”

“No notice has not been served on any of our national officers, so how then do you expect compliance from us?” he queried.

He said the party has the right to protest and as such does not see why any institution will claim it wants to ban them from doing so.

“The right to demonstrate is a constitutional right. We have the right to demonstrate because of the dictatorial tendencies of the current leader of this country, for who the EC has stolen an election. Have you seen any NDC supporters destroy properties and beat up journalists throughout the protests? No. But because we have a president who is paranoid, and afraid of his own shadow, knowing very well that the mandate is not from the people, all these things are happening.”

“Let it be said today that nobody, absolutely nobody will stop us from exercising a constitutional right,” Edudzi Tamakloe noted.

The Regional Police Command explained that it cannot provide protection for the NDC during the protests due to “post-election and multifaceted security operations for the festive season and beyond.”

It further indicated that the prohibition order follows an Affidavit filed by the Police upon receipt of notification from the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NDC, Kobina Ade Coker, on the party’s intentions to stage protests in constituencies across the region.