play videoReginald Sekyi Brown has been granted bail after he was arrested by the police
The Police say they arrested a final year student of the University of Ghana on Wednesday because he breached security at an event attended by First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, ACP David Eklu said the young man – Reginald Sekyi Brown – posed a potential security threat to the First Lady who was at the medical facility to cut the sod for the construction of a pediatric unit.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, ACP Eklu said Brown was approaching the First Lady and her security feared he was dangerous, a reason he was arrested.
“He was restrained by the security because he was getting too close to the First Lady and that was a clear security breach,” he told programme host Daniel Dadzie.
Brown was arrested after he held a placard and walked towards the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo while she delivered a speech at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
He claims he was at the programme to campaign and draw Mrs Akufo-Addo’s attention to the state of the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
The first phase of the $217 million facility was completed and inaugurated by former president John Dramani Mahama in 2016. It has eight separate buildings which house different specialised centres such as the emergency, imaging, operating theatres and laboratories.
The second phase of the project which will add another 350 beds to the facility will also provide specialist facilities including a heart centre, a cancer treatment centre, a rehabilitation centre and a hotel for families of patients is however yet to begin.
Parliament is said to have approved $50 million for the completion of the second phase. But even before it will begin, there have been concerns the facility already put up will deteriorate if it is not put to use.
Many calls on the Akufo-Addo-led administration seems to have fallen on deaf ears as the facility which is expected to take pressure from the Legon Hospital and cater for the health needs of residents around the Legon-Madina area.
Brown, who is a pharmacy student, is leading an online campaign for the facility to be opened. A petition has already garnered over 1,000 signatures from Ghanaians.
He was hoping to be given audience with Mrs Akufo-Addo when he was arrested.
But ACP Eklu says Brown’s arrest was necessary and it was an action any security detail will take anywhere in the world.
“It is not about the message he was carrying, but his posture. That is what we were concerned about,” he said, adding “he was holding a placard, an object and he was holding a backpack and no one knew the contents of it.”
He, however, explained that Brown was taken to the police station, his backpack searched and bail granted later.
“We realised that he didn’t have anything that could cause any harm, which is why he was released on bail and anytime we need him, he will be called,” he said.
He said the decision to arrest him was to ensure that the First lady and the other VIPs at the function were safe and Brown should have obeyed security instructions.
For more news, go to myjoyonline.com
Related Articles:
UGMC saga: Intervene; your government losing the debate – Baako to Akufo-Addo
We’ll settle UGMC matters by Friday – Health Minister
First Lady not pursuing UGMC placard holding protestor case – Aide
Gabby supports ‘Open UGMC Now’ campaign
We’ll settle UGMC matters by Friday – Health Minister
UGMC saga: Intervene; your government losing the debate – Baako to Akufo-Addo
Security knew content of my bag – #OpenUGMC Campaigner
$217m UGMC: Good news coming on Friday – Agyemang-Manu
Put politics aside and open UG Medical Centre – Elias Sory to government
I support the ‘Open UGMC Now’ campaign – Gabby
#OpenUGMC protester detained after stalking First Lady
On renaming Legon, historicity, politics and romanticization
The true, documented and authoritative history of the University of Ghana
$100m endowment fund to be used to address challenges in UG – Vice Chancellor
University of Ghana to launch Endowment Fund
Mary Chinery-Hesse succeeds Kofi Annan as UG Chancellor
Health Minister blamed for delay to open $270m UG Medical Centre
Parliament approves $50m to complete UG Medical Centre
UG Medical Centre cannot be run on national grid – Agyemang-Manu
UG salary delays is a sign of government’s incompetence – Kofi Adams
Salary delays at Legon normal – UTAG
Financially-distressed UG unable to pay salaries over delayed subventions
UG debt: NAPO tarnishing my image – Prof Aryeetey
Prof Aryeetey ‘enslaved’ Legon by signing dubious contract – Prof. Oduro
I don’t have any relationship with current Legon VC – Prof. Aryeetey
Late Prof. Atta Mills believed in UG Medical Center – Prof. Aryeetey
Government signs $600m deal with Dubai firm for medical university, hospital
UG was supposed to manage Medical Centre – Segbefia
Legon Hospital, fruit of ‘smart borrowing’ approach – Terkper
UG, MoH miss Medical Centre settlement deadline
UG, MoH arrive at settlement on Medical Centre – Oppong Nkrumah
We have competent and skilled doctors but an ailing system – GMA laments
Sell UG Medical Centre to private entity – Casely-Hayford
Nana Addo must end UG Medical Centre impasse – GMA
Fight for UG Medical centre – Aryeetey urges authorities
Cabinet to meet today over ‘abandoned’$217m UG Medical Centre
Cabinet to meet today over ‘abandoned’ $217m UG Medical Centre
‘My position made people uncomfortable’ – Prof Aryeetey
UG Medical Centre: Aryeetey fights back; calls Deputy Minister ‘illiterate’
UG hospital: Former VC describes Deputy Health Minister’s allegations as ‘illiterate, mischievous’
There’s a grand scheme to erase my legacy – Prof Aryeetey
Health Minister ‘too slow’ – Yieleh Chireh
Ernest Aryeetey resigns from UG hospital board
Selfish interest cause of MoH, UG hospital brouhaha – Aryeetey
UG Hospital: My position made people uncomfortable – Prof Aryeetey
Take me to court if you want – Deputy Health Minister dares Prof. Aryeetey
Ex-UG Vice-Chancellor, 2 others accused of registering UG Hospital in their names
The University of Ghana Teaching Hospital
We’ll summon officials over ‘abandoned’ health facilities – Yieleh Chireh
I don’t own UG Medical Centre – Prof Aryeetey
UG Medical Center: ‘If government funded it then it owns it, simple’ – Minister
Okudzeto Ablakwa criticizes government over UG, Health Ministry battle
1,400 staff were shortlisted for UG Medical Centre – Mettle-Nunoo
Stop interfering in UG Medical Centre affairs – Minority to government
Health Ministry, UG battle over Medical Centre needless – Kweku Baako
Back off new Legon hospital – Minority
Stay off Legon Hospital – Minority to MoH
UG Hospital: Stay off – Minority to Ministry of Health
UG Hospital: Stay off – Minority to MoH
NUGS cautions Gov’t over interference in the operations of new Legon Hospital
State of $217m UG Medical Centre
University of Ghana, Health Ministry lock horns over ownership of hospital
Cabinet directs Health Ministry to takeover UG medical facility
UG management averts National Security takeover of medical centre
Comments: This article has 17 comment(s), give your comment