Sunyani demo turns sour; four injured as police fire bullets, tear gas Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline Date: 24-07-2014 Time: 08:07:51:pm Thousands of workers who joined Thursday’s demonstration by Organized Labour in Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region capital, had to run for their lives after police fired tear gas and bullets to disperse them. Four persons suffered injuries from the shots fired, according to Kuuku Abban, Joy News’ Correspondent in Brong Ahafo Region. Kuuku reported that the demonstration started smoothly as protesters commenced procession through the principal streets of Sunyani. “Things got out of hand when the protestors declined to heed police’s directive that only leaders of the demonstration would be allowed to present a petition to the Regional Minister”, reported Kuuku. The protesters attempted to force their way through about a 100-strong police personnel but were met with fierce resistance. When police realized their human shield was being breached, they fired some warning shots and tear gas to disperse the protestors. Incensed by the shots, protestors started pelting stones at the police personnel. However the police also responded forcefully with rubber bullets, injuring four. Police also picked up a number of the protesters for violating public order. Osei Appiah Acheampong said police kicked him in the abdomen for violating public order. However, up until that incident, Thursday’s demonstration in Sunyani, which was part of a nationwide protest by Organised Labour, was successful. The demonstrators numbering about a thousand sang and danced to brass band music as they received cheers from observers along the street. Drivers on the road tooted horns as a sign of solidarity to the demonstrators. “They wielded placards some of which read ‘Bring Back TOR’, ‘Stop the Corruption now’, ‘Boko Haram Government’, ‘Reduce Taxes Now’, ‘Revamp Railways’ among others”, Kuuku Abban reported. Many of the protesters who spoke to Joy News’ complained about high cost of foodstuff, high taxes, and increasing cost of utilities.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 08:05:30 +0000
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