#OccupyJulorBiHouse: Ghanaian musicians including Sarkodie queries Ghana’s democracy after arresting protesters

Numerous Ghanaian musicians including Sarkodie have queried the type of democracy Ghana is practicing after the arrest of peaceful protestors in the capital, Accra.

The actions of the police towards the peaceful protestors have called the attention of many Ghanaian musicians to speak for the masses.

On the world-known social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, the musicians shared and queried the actions of the police and the government since they are also the mouthpiece of the “ordinary” Ghanaian.

Check below the concerns of Ghanaian musicians:

@Stonebwoy

Whether you support the arrested protesters or not you cannot deny that they have the constitutional right to assemble and freely express their grievances. Dissent after all is the hallmark of every democracy.

Our right to enjoy the freedoms our constitution has bestowed on us should not be unjustly curtained especially not by the institutions of state mandated to uphold the law!..

In the words of the Great Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Whom we celebrate Today,
“We shall not rest until Africa is free and united under the leadership of the African people.”

“We Awakend We Shall Not Sleep Anymore”. – Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
#KwameNkrumahMemorialDay

D-Black @DBLACKGH

Democracy includes freedom of association, freedom of religion and speech, citizenship, assembly, voting rights, freedom from unwarranted governmental deprivation of the right to life and liberty + minority rights.💔

Lord KiDi @KiDiMusic

We are Ghanaian before anything else. My topmost concern is the safety of our people. we should be able to freely exercise our right to protest.

We are making efforts to help the protesters who have been detained but we’re facing some challenges on the ground.

King Promise

@IamKingPromise

Imagine crying about hardship and being made to suffer for peacefully crying out. Ridiculous!!! Where’s the democracy? We deserve better !!!

SON OF JACOB @KWESIARTHUR

Frustrated by what dey happen in Accra today. Besides the fact say we dey taya now more than ever in a country with so much resources, democracy is clearly out the window too. Proud my people are taking steps to make a change and I support the fight 100. We are stronger together. Free the youth!

EFIAODO @Efiaodo1

At Shukura police station and it looks like the boys arrested will be here Overnight, bail is not possible. #OccupyJulorbi House

EFYA

@EFYA_Nokturnal

Why are the police assaulting peaceful protest protestors…?? Is this Ghana..? Wow!

BLACKO @blacksherif

Left the UN Conference in New York City right after the president of Ghana’s presentation. I’ve never heard a figure like what he asked for from the UN.

So if they carry all these money give dem, where them dey take pass? Hand on my heart I dey tell you there’s no evidence for all the moneys these people dey borrow in our name. And if the people, whose struggles you document to go ask for money, want accountability, you send Koti make they dey beat them? Lord knows this battle is Ours. Wonna go hear am

Sarkodie @sarkodie

You can only be scared of a peaceful protest when you know you deserve otherwise…

Sarkodie’s tweet sparked the minds of many Ghanaians because he seems to be careful in his wording.

A concerned citizen explained what he meant in the “brief” tweet he made saying:

“I am not a fan of Sarkodie but this tweet is cryptic loaded.

“This tweet suggests that the fear of a peaceful protest arises when those in power or those being protested against are aware, deep down, that they have done something wrong or unjust. When people engage in a peaceful protest, they are typically advocating for change or expressing their discontent with a situation.

“If those in authority believe they have a legitimate reason for their actions or policies, there should be no reason to fear a peaceful protest, as it’s a non-violent means of expressing concerns.

“However, when those in power recognize that their actions might be unfair, oppressive, or harmful to others, the peaceful protest becomes a symbolic challenge to their authority. In this context, the fear arises because they know they may deserve criticism or accountability for their actions.

“Essentially, the tweet suggests that fear of a peaceful protest reflects a guilty conscience or a recognition of wrongdoing on the part of those in authority.

Note: The otherwise of “peaceful” is “violent”.”

The protest caused many havoc and chaotic scenes just because the masses wanted the right things to be done in a country that is ruled under the umbrella of democracy.

“The Police has arrested about 50 demonstrators who joined hundreds in the hope of protesting at the frontage of the Jubilee House, the seat of government.
The arrest took place in the early hours of September 21 at the 37 Trotro station in Accra’s Military enclave, where the demonstrators had converged to embark on their planned protest.

The demonstrators, decorated in black and red attire, intended to demand a range of reforms, including a reduction in the cost of living, an end to corruption, and improved governance.
But this dream was short-lived as men from the Ghana Police Service GPS bundled about 50 of them up into a bus and conveyed them to the Regional Police Headquarters in Accra Central.
Though the Police cannot state why they had arrested the 50, the reason can be deduced from interactions with that had ensued between the Police and organizers of the protest earlier.

A few days back, after the organizers of the protest made their intention to protest known the Police said it had obtained a court injunction to stop the protest.
The Police subsequently released a statement and cautioned people not to come out to protest on September 21.

However, the organizers claimed they had not received any Court notice, stopping them from embarking on the protest, hence their presence at the converging point this morning.
While being conveyed in the bus to the police station, Mr. Oliver Barker-Vormawor, one of the Organizers shared a video on his social media page, expressing the group’s disappointment in the police.

Mr. Vormawor who had previously been arrested in a similar protest, appealed to lawyers nationwide to provide legal aid to the detained protests.
He also called upon the public and media for their solidarity.

According to a tweet made by President, Nana Akufo-Addo in 2014, he made it clear that citizens should feel free to criticize him “when things are going wrong.”

But today, it seems his government is resisting what he has called for.

The tweet from @NAkufoAddo reads:

“(6) Where it is necessary to criticize me, do not hesitate, point out when things are going wrong.

1:59 AM 11/09/2014 from Earth”

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh