By Ghana Eye Report
Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Efutu Constituency, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has condemned what he describes as an unprovoked act of violence against him by a uniformed police officer during the “Save the Judiciary” demonstration at Parliament House, according to a statement released late Monday.
Afenyo-Markin was captured in a widely circulated video on social media, appearing visibly agitated while attempting to hit an officer behind a barricade during the demonstration on Monday.
The Minority Leader gave an account of the incident, alleging that one Constable Forson struck him forcefully on the chest near his heart as he approached the barricade to present a petition.
“As I approached the barricade without any provocation, a uniformed police officer stationed behind the barricade – Constable Forson, a tall, fair, heavily built officer deliberately struck the left side of my chest with the full force of his right palm, directly near my heart. The impact of the hit dazed me, and I was visibly shaken and short of breath,” the statement read.
According to Afenyo-Markin, senior police officers and colleagues quickly intervened to assist him, providing water and helping him stabilize before he proceeded with the petition presentation.
He emphasised that his reaction was merely a protest against the officer’s conduct, rejecting claims that he was the aggressor.
“What makes this assault particularly egregious is that the officer was being openly reprimanded by his superiors and fellow officers at the time, yet he defiantly responded that he didn’t care who I was,” he said.
The Efutu MP announced his intention to formally petition the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for a full investigation into the officer’s actions.
He expressed concern that the officer had mysteriously disappeared from the scene after the altercation, raising suspicions about efforts to shield him from scrutiny and punishment.
The Minority Leader also criticised attempts to twist the narrative, accusing elements within the opposition of using the incident to deflect attention from the demonstration’s core constitutional concerns.
“We must not be distracted from the purpose of the demonstration. We marched to defend the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary—principles that must be protected at all costs,” he asserted.
The Ghana Police Service has meanwhile invited the Minority Leader for investigations into Monday’s incident. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
Find the statement issued by the Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, below:
