The Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has sharply condemned what he described as a “deliberate and disgraceful act of violence” allegedly committed by a police officer during the “Save the Judiciary” demonstration on Monday, May 5, 2025.
In a statement released the same day, Afenyo-Markin recounted a disturbing encounter at the entrance of Parliament House, where he claims he was assaulted without provocation. According to him, Constable Forson, a uniformed officer, struck him forcefully on the left side of his chest with “the full force of his right palm,” near his heart.
“As the leader of the demonstration, I was helping to guide protesters—alongside other political party leaders—to present our petition to Parliament,” Afenyo-Markin explained. “While attempting to join colleagues who had already gained access, Constable Forson, who was fully aware of my identity, attacked me unprovoked.”
He stated that the impact of the blow left him momentarily disoriented and breathless. Nearby officers quickly intervened and assisted him to a secure location, where parliamentary staff and two CID officers administered first aid. After recovering briefly in a security room, he rejoined the demonstrators to deliver the petition.
While commending the professionalism displayed by officers stationed at the Supreme Court and Jubilee House, Afenyo-Markin described the conduct of officers at Parliament as “a troubling deviation” that undermines public trust in law enforcement.
He further claimed that multiple eyewitnesses—including senior officers and party officials—confirmed the incident, and that Constable Forson was confronted by his superiors but responded defiantly, reportedly stating, “I don’t care who he is, leader or not.”
Efforts to locate the officer following the incident were reportedly unsuccessful, leading Afenyo-Markin to suspect that he may have been removed from the scene to avoid accountability.
The Minority Leader has since filed a formal complaint with the Inspector-General of Police, calling for a prompt and thorough investigation. “This shameful incident must be addressed with the seriousness it warrants,” he said.
He also condemned attempts by unnamed individuals to distort the incident and portray him as the aggressor, calling such claims a deliberate distraction from the core message of the protest—the defense of Ghana’s Constitution and the independence of the judiciary.
“We must not be distracted from the true purpose of the demonstration. We marched peacefully to defend democratic principles. No officer should be permitted to undermine that effort,” Afenyo-Markin emphasized.
As of now, the Ghana Police Service has not issued an official response to the allegations.
