ATU Lecturer blasts Police for refusing #FixTheCountry protesters permit

A Senior Lecturer at the Accounts and Finance Department of the Accra Technical University (ATU), Dr Ibrahim Zubeiru has condemned the Ghana Police Service for refusing to grand a youth group permit to protest over the failure on the part of the Akufo-Addo-led Government to improve on the living conditions of Ghanaians.
The group, that began a strong social media campaign – #FixTheCountry on twitter and Facebook over the weekend, had written to the police for protection for theid demonstration slated for Sunday, May 9, 2021 but the police said it could not shepherd them.
A letter signed by 20 individuals of the group explained that the date was selected to capture the restless spirit of the over 126 Ghanaians who lost their lives some 20 years ago at the Accra Sports Stadium due to the “institutionalized incompetence and disregard for Ghanaian lives.”
But the Greater Accra Police PRO, DSP Effia Tenge, indicated that the police wil not be able to grant the organisers of the protest their wish because the gathering goes against the ban on public gatherings currently in place as part of measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

DSP Tenge who spoke on Joy FM’s Top Story stated, “the police will not be able to provide the necessary security looking at the spread of Covid-19 and the kind of dangers that it poses to members of the public should they attend this demonstration.”
Despite the detailed plan enumerated by the protestors in line with Covid-19 protocols, the police say “there is no way that we can be able to guarantee for a fact that such a large demonstrating public” will adhere to such a plan.
Hypocrisy
But reacting to the development in an interview with TV XYZ News’ Wisdom Hededzome, the Senior lecturer who has been following the trend of events expressed surprise at the posture of the Police and warned that any attempt to hide behind COVID-19 to suppress the people could be disasterous.
Dr Zubeiru who bemoaned what he described as hypocrisy on the part of the Police and quizzed, “the same police service allowed Occupy Ghana [to demonstrate] during Mahama’s time and same police is stopping #FixTheCountry demo? What kind of hypocrisy is this?”
He said the excuse from the Police that their action is as a result of ensuring compliance to the COVID-19 protocols cannot be true.
“Are people not going to churches? Are they not doing crusades? Are we not teaching students in the universities?” he quizzed. “They shouldn’t hide under COVID -19. God will punish anybody who hide under COVID-19 to tell lies for their hidden agenda.”
He went opn to state the youth may have been fed up because all influencial bodies who must put government to check are sleeping therefore they have to take the mantle and put the government to its toes.
Dr Zubeiru observed the arrogance exhibited during the Akufo-Addo’s first term has hit a wall and its either the President admits there is crisis and calls for national dialogue on the economy or prepare to face more pressure from the youth.
Growing Anger
The reactions of some Government officials and communicators have caused an uproar on social media, making the campaign gain grounds.