Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a prominent Ghanaian activist and leader of the Fix the Country movement, has denied claims by the Ghana Police Service that he is evading arrest. Barker-Vormawor was accused of leading a public protest against worsening economic conditions in Ghana.
The protest, which took place on Sunday in Accra, resulted in the arrest of 42 demonstrators by the police.
On Sunday, the Ghana Police Service announced the arrest of 42 individuals who participated in the Democracy Hub protest, which was organized to raise concerns over the economic hardships facing many Ghanaians.
According to the police, the protest was unlawful, and the demonstrators had caused disruptions in the capital city of Accra.
In a statement signed by ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Director of Public Affairs for the Ghana Police Service, it was revealed that the protesters were involved in acts of lawlessness.
The arrested individuals, including some of the leaders of the movement, would face charges and appear in court.
The police statement read: “The demonstrators were obstructing traffic, damaging police property, and attacking officers who were performing their duties.”
These actions, according to the police, were the primary reasons for their intervention to stop the demonstration.
Following the arrests, the Ghana Police Service issued a separate statement claiming that Oliver Barker-Vormawor, identified as one of the key leaders of the protest, was on the run.
The police accused him of trying to evade arrest like some of the other protesters.
However, Barker-Vormawor responded quickly, denying these allegations. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, he dismissed the police’s claims as “baseless and misleading.”
He wrote, “It has come to my attention that the Ghana Police Service has issued press statements suggesting that they are on a manhunt for me, thereby creating the false impression that I am on the run.”
The activist further clarified that he had been in constant communication with senior officers within the police hierarchy and had made his whereabouts known. He stated that there was no reason for the police to create the impression that he was avoiding them.
“These claims are baseless and misleading, as I have been in consistent communication with senior officers within the Police hierarchy regarding my whereabouts and availability,” Barker-Vormawor added.
In his Facebook post, Barker-Vormawor mentioned that he had instructed his legal team to engage with the Ghana Police Service to clarify the situation.
He expressed his willingness to cooperate with the authorities and stressed that he was committed to the rule of law.
“In light of these developments, I have instructed my lawyers to urgently engage with the Ghana Police Service to seek clarification on which specific police station or office they wish me to report to,” he wrote.
Barker-Vormawor emphasised that his legal team was ready to work with the police to ensure that the situation was resolved through proper channels.
He expressed hope that this engagement would provide clarity and prevent any further attempts to distort the truth.
“My legal team stands ready to cooperate and will be in touch with the relevant authorities to ascertain the appropriate steps required,” he said.
“I remain committed to the rule of law and to addressing any issues raised by the police in accordance with due process.”
The Ghana Police Service has faced criticism for its handling of protests in the country.
Critics argue that the police’s response to peaceful demonstrations has often been heavy-handed, with protesters facing arrest and detention for expressing their grievances.
In the case of the Democracy Hub protest, the police justified their actions by stating that the protest was unlawful and that demonstrators had engaged in activities that posed a threat to public safety.
However, many supporters of the protest argue that the arrests were an attempt to stifle dissent and silence voices calling for economic reforms.
The arrest of 42 individuals, including leaders of the protest, has sparked outrage among civil society groups and activists who believe that the government should be focusing on addressing the root causes of the protests—namely, the worsening economic conditions—rather than suppressing public demonstrations.
