Matilda Omonaiye/
The police in Ghana drew international media attention today when officers descended on a protesting journalist and social activist, Ernesto Yeboah.
Yeboah, who is the Commander-in-Chief of a group called the Economic Fighters League, was protesting against government’s proposal to build a new Parliamentary Chamber complex at the cost of $200million while school children sit on the floor to study.
He was arrested alongside another member of the group identified as Abeiku Adams.
Officers were seen manhandling Yeboah in a viral video posted by 3News.Com. He later told reporters how the officers pinned him down, marched his head, and left him with bruises on his hands.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the arrested journalists were held at the Parliament police station for onward transfer to another division in Accra.
The police action drew the attention of journalists in Nigeria and members of the International Forum for Migration Journalists who issued a statement to register their displeasure.
The statement signed by the President of the Forum, Ajibola Abayomi, says, “Our attention has been drawn to the arrest of a citizen journalist and social crusader, Mr Ernesto Yeboah. He is a member of the International Forum For Migration Journalists who was arrested on July 5, 2015, by the Ghanaian police based on the directive of the government.
“Based on our findings, we are shocked that, Yeboah, the Convener of Ghana Economic Fighter League was arrested as a lawful citizen of the country while leading a peaceful protest on a just course.
“Information available to us further indicated that he led a group of law-abiding Ghanaians to protest the proposed plan by the Government and the leadership of the Parliament to build a NEW PARLIAMENTARY building estimated at $200 million while thousands of Ghanaians face economic challenges.
“We are concerned that since his arrest he has been subjected to all kinds of brutalities by the law enforcement agents.
“While the government has right to take decisions on day to day running of affairs of the nation, however, we strongly believe that in a democracy, citizens have right to hold same government accountable and make its structures responsible to the electorate.
“Giving the foregoing, we demand as a matter of urgent importance the immediate release of the detained Yeboah as a lawful citizen of Ghana.
Instead of vilifying him, we plead with the government to review the course of action that led to the protest by the Economic League Fighters.
“We are of the view that Ghana is a signatory to the United Nations charter on human rights, therefore, Yeboah is not a criminal but a social reformer and should be released forthwith without condition.”
NewsmakersNG learnt that the journalists have been released following public outrage over the police action.
Watch the video posted by 3News.Com:
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