A member of the relentless #FixTheCountry movement has condemned the police for arresting over 200 persons suspected to be criminals.
Barker Vormawor has said while the intention of the police in conducting the swoop may be good, they must be seen to be acting according to the law.
“We need to put in context whenever the police act and the basis on which they act. Because it is important that we get the responses right every time. The responses have to be right in law. If not, we will be living in an unlawful and lawless republic,†he told Prime News in an exclusive interview.
Police in Accra last week embarked on a swoop at different locations of the capital and arrested 215 persons suspected to have information about perpetrators of recent attacks on cash transit vehicles and other violent crimes.
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According to police swoops were conducted in areas such as Korle Bu, Tesano, Amasaman, Nima, Dansoman, Abokobi, Accra Central, Teshie, Madina, Baatsona, Jamestown, Osu and Lakeside, Ashaley Botwe.
Police explained that the exercise is part of a series of activities by the command since the beginning of this year, but recent the swoop is specifically targeted at fighting violent crimes, drug peddling and street robberies.
Police said they intercepted dangerous weapons and narcotics.
Speaking to Prime News, the #FixTheCountry campaigner said is convinced that the police swoop involved barging into homes and other locations without a warrant, adding that would be an infringement on the rights of the persons picked up.
“Ghanaians understand the value of living in a democracy and a republic which requires that even when we are acting against wrong, we don’t create more wrong.
Just last month, the police arrested 345 Nigerians because people in Kasoa were complaining of crime…a lot of times you hear these stories. But what people do not do is follow up and ask ‘how many of the people were charged?’ And ‘how many of the innocent people were just picked up because they were close by?’ And ‘what was the evidence of crime for which reason the police swooped?’†he said.
Barker Vormawor said if police are truly conducting investigations they pick up intelligence – or monitored people to know that crimes go on in a particular area – “they must go before a judge and present the documented evidence of what they have seen for the judge to furnish them with a warrant for them to go and arrest the criminals and conduct a search.â€
The #FixTheCountry campaign is a push for accountability from the government.
It was started by popular Ghanaian Twitter influencer, Joshua Boye-Doe, known popularly as KalyJay, and has since been joined by celebrities and popular political activists and many ordinary Ghanaians.
#FixTheCountry conveners intended to hold a mammoth demonstration soon.
But conveners and the police are currently in court fighting the intended street protested. Police say they cannot allow the protests to go on over COVID-19 fears.