Police arrest 109 for obstruction at Ritz junction

The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested 109 persons for obstructing the police from executing an order of arrest at Ritz junction at Madina in Accra.

The arrest followed some residents’ refusal to allow a court bailiff and several police officers who were executing a legal order from carrying out their duties.

Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Effia Tenge, said the police would thoroughly investigate the suspects and process the identified culprits for court.

In a video that went viral, some residents of Ritz Junction prevented the Police from carrying out a court order. But for the professionalism exhibited by the Police, a confrontation would have ensured.

A few days, however, the Police, in a show of force, swooped in the neighbourhood and arrested some residents identified as part of those who put up the resistance against the Police.

Speaking on an Accra-based Radio Station, Citi FM, Mrs Tenger said, “the Police were met with fierce resistance from people who were then occupying that area.”

“So it is always professional that police officers who were confronted with that incident retreat professionally and respond in the appropriate time with the needed manpower, logistics, and skills.”

She added that “among those arrested were 13 women. We intend to screen all of them. Some of them will be definitely be identified for obstructing police officers on lawful duty”.

The incident which went viral on social media sparked widespread condemnation from a section of the public.

In the video, some built men charged on armed police personnel who had stormed the area in their numbers.

An armed policeman was pushed to the ground by the youth.

The angry youth rolled a mini metal container ostensibly to block the police from crossing it to effect the arrest they had gone there to execute.

The police personnel subsequently had to retreat from their operation to calm the tensions from further escalating.