General News of Thursday, 31 May 2018
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2018-05-31
Sekyi Brown in an altercation with a police officer
A final year student of the University of Ghana who was arrested by police Wednesday morning for interrupting a programme attended by the first lady has been granted bail.
Reginald Sekyi Brown was arrested after he held a placard and walked toward the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, while she was delivering her speech during the sod cutting of the pediatric unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Police say they have taken the statement of the student and he is expected to report back on Friday to help the police continue their investigations.
Mr Brown attended the ceremony to campaign and draw the attention of the First Lady to the state of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).
The hospital has remained closed after being commissioned by former President, John Mahama in January 2017 three days before he handed over power to the newly elected president.
According to sources, Mr Brown started the campaign #OpenUGMCNow campaign on social media which has drawn a lot of students to join his cause.
Speaking to Joy News, Mr Brown stated that he was simply at the programme to support the first lady in the sod cutting ceremony and also draw her attention to his campaign and the need for the centre to be opened.
Speaking to Accra based Citi FM, PRO of Accra Regional Police, ASP Afia Tenge confirmed the arrest and bail granted to the young man.
She emphasized that the police acted professionally in arresting him and that the forum he used to do his advocacy was misplaced.
“If anyone wants to undertake any act of the sort, they should follow the public order act,” she said.
She added that all preliminary investigations have commenced and the police will pursue the case to a logical conclusion.
ASP Tenge also hinted that some charges may be leveled against him, although she was unable to confirm which charges.
Meanwhile, Press Secretary to the first lady, Richard Darko has stated that Mrs Akufo-Addo is uninterested in the case.
“First Lady is not interested in the pursuing the case,” he said.