Afenyo-Markin alleges assault by police officer during “Save the Judiciary” protest at Parliament

Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin led the "Save the Judiciary" demonstration on May 5, 2025. He claims a police officer physically assaulted him during the peaceful protest. This incident happened at the entrance of Parliament House, where they were to present their petition.

According to Mr. Afenyo-Markin, Constable Forson struck him in the chest without provocation. He was trying to join other demonstrators who had entered Parliament. He described the assault as follows: “A uniformed officer deliberately struck my chest near my heart.” The impact left him dazed and short of breath.

Other officers and an Inspector helped him recover in a restricted area. Party members and parliamentary staff also assisted him before he rejoined the group to present their petition. Senior police officers and the Deputy Marshal of Parliament tried to find Constable Forson afterward but could not locate him.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin condemned the officer's actions as a "deliberate, reckless, and targeted attack." He noted that this behavior contrasted sharply with professionalism shown by officers at other protest sites like the Supreme Court and Jubilee House. “What occurred at Parliament was an embarrassing departure from professionalism,” he stated.

He also criticized attempts by some individuals to misrepresent the incident, claiming he was merely protesting against the officer’s actions. Mr. Afenyo-Markin plans to formally petition the Inspector-General of Police for a full investigation into this matter. He emphasized that many senior officers witnessed the assault and can support his account.

In his statement, he accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of politicizing this incident. He claimed they are using propaganda to distract from important constitutional issues raised by demonstrators. “We marched to defend the Constitution and judicial independence—principles that must be protected,” he concluded.