Former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyeremanten has added his voice to the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest which took place from September 21 to 23.
The protest, which originally started on Thursday, unexpectedly changed course when the police got involved, detaining 49 of the organizers on suspicion of unlawful assembly.
Demonstrators gathered at the 37 bus terminal for the planned protest when the incident happened. Late on Thursday night, the protesters were released after negotiations between their attorneys and law enforcement.
Following the public criticism about how the police handled the situation, the Ghana Police Service in a statement, the Police expressed their gratitude to the public and their regret for any inconvenience caused by the three-day protest known as #OccupyJulorbiHouse, which was organized by the Democracy Hub group.
In a statement issued on September 23, the police expressed gratitude to all participants for their support and understanding throughout the protest and apologized to the injured protesters who were hit by the swoop.
Mr. Alan Kyeremanten who just resigned from the New Patriotic Party has condemned the Police Service for assaulting and arresting #OccupyJulorbiHouse protestors.
According to him in a Tweet, the former Trade Minister said the recent #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration is due to the unemployment crisis in the country which is gradually becoming a national security.
He added that the initial treatment of the police to the protestors is not solution to the problem. He stated that “What Ghana needs now is CHANGE.”
“This phenomenon of pervasive employment crisis, is gradually becoming a national security threat, as evidenced by the recent #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstrations. The initial reaction of the Police in manhandling some protestors is not the solution to the problem. What Ghana needs now is CHANGE, which will provide long-lasting solutions to the challenges confronting our country,” Mr. Alan Kyeremanten tweeted.
This phenomenon of pervasive employment crisis, is gradually becoming a national security threat, as evidenced by the recent #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstrations. The initial reaction of the Police in manhandling some protestors is not the solution to the problem. What Ghana needs…
— Alan John Kyerematen (@AlanKyerematen) September 25, 2023
Relatedly, Alan Kyeremanten has announced his immediate exit from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In the most recent super delegates congress, he claimed that the party had not treated him fairly.
The former flagbearer candidate announced at a press conference in Accra that he would run as an independent in the general elections of 2024.
