Court bans civil society groups from organizing protests against country’s economic difficulties

Ghana’s High Court has banned groups from staging protests against the country’s economic difficulties.

High Court Judge Abena Afia Serwaa upheld a request by the Ghana Police to ban civil society groups from protesting between July 31 and August 6 after police told the court they could not provide security for the protesters.

Court documents seen by Modern Ghana News said police had warned that the planned demonstration could endanger public order.

Police said some officers had been deployed to political rallies and campaign events and could not guarantee safety for protesters.

Protest organizer Mensa Thompson said citizens have the right to protest and elections should not be an excuse to stop protests.

“Young people are ready to demonstrate whether the authorities approve it or not. One day they will spontaneously take to the streets and we will face ‘Kenya’.”

“Young people are ready to demonstrate whether the authorities approve or not. One day they will spontaneously take to the streets and we will have ‘Kenya’.”