Gabby recounts how police gave him the ‘beatings of his life’ during protest against EC

Gabby Otchere-Darko, in a post shared on X on Friday, September 20, 2024, while reflecting on the recent #EnoughIsEnough demonstration by the opposition National Democratic Congress, recounted how police officers beat him up.

He said that the head office of the EC at that time was declared a security zone, and the police officers subjected the demonstrators, including him, to severe beatings.

“Exactly 9 years ago to the day the NDC held their demonstration this week calling for an audit of Ghana’s electoral roll, some Ghanaians, predominantly NPP activists, marched the streets of Accra peacefully to present a similar petition to the Electoral Commission.

“The EC HQ was declared a security zone and unarmed protestors were beaten mercilessly by the police. No police person was attacked by a protestor. In fact, it took some police officers to fight off those police officers sent out deliberately to ‘teach us a lesson’,” Gabby wrote.

Gabby, a cousin of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, alleged that the leader of the police officers rejoiced about the beatings he got and reported it to then-President John Dramani Mahama, who was not so enthused about it.

“I found out later that a security head went to President Mahama to announce triumphantly that I had been well-walloped. To his credit, I was told the President was not amused,” he added.

Comparing the NDC’s demonstration to that of the LMVCA, Gabby indicated that, unlike the #EnoughIsEnough protest, they were not allowed to submit their petition to the EC.

“Sadly, Justice lost his eye and eventually his life. But, strategically our protest demanding a clean voter register took place almost 15 months before the next general elections, giving the protestors a realistic chance for success.

“And, the petition that could not be submitted that day contained verifiable evidence and inductions to support the campaign. Is it the same case today? I have not been following closely, but I thought this reminder could be helpful,” his post concluded.

Read his full post below:

Exactly 9 years ago to the day the NDC held their demonstration this week calling for an audit of Ghana’s electoral roll, some Ghanaians, predominantly NPP activists, marched the streets of Accra peacefully to present a similar petition to the Electoral Commission. The EC HQ was… pic.twitter.com/21FbEmgb4v

— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) September 20, 2024