Police refute claims of coercion in Democracy Hub protest re-enactment

The police have denied allegations that they compelled individuals on trial for their actions during the recent Democracy Hub demonstration to re-enact the protest at the 37 Intersection.The Service emphasised that all investigative measures were conducted lawfully and without coercion.A statement signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs, said crime scene reconstruction was a standard investigative practice employed by law enforcement agencies globally.It clarified that such procedures are conducted in accordance with established protocols, noting that the Ghana Police Service had utilised the practice for many years.The statement said that the police detectives involved in the crime scene reconstruction were part of the investigative team from the beginning of the case.It said that claims suggesting those officers were unfamiliar to the accused were false, emphasising their continuous engagement throughout the investigation.The police stated that, in accordance with standard procedures, the accused were informed of their right to legal representation during the crime scene reconstruction process.The statement noted that some of the accused chose to participate in the reconstruction without their lawyers.Some of the accused, however, asserted their right to have their lawyers present, and the reconstruction process for those individuals was yet to be completed.The police said it was untrue that the accused were coerced or threatened with harm to participate in the crime scene reconstruction.The statement indicated that there had been several attempts since the incident to disseminate false information to the public, including claims about the arrest of a 12-year-old child and a pregnant woman.It said that those narratives were part of a broader effort to foster disaffection towards the police force.'We see this one, as one such attempt, and we urge the public to disregard it,' the Police said.Source: Ghana News Agency