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Alleged Assault: ‘I Was Merely Protesting Police Officer’s Conduct’ – Afenyo-Markin

By Emmanuel Nkansah Abankwah On May 6, 2025 0

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has condemned what he describes as an unprovoked act of police brutality during the “Save the Judiciary” demonstration held at Parliament House on Monday, May 5.

The demonstration, organised to highlight concerns over threats to judicial independence, took a dramatic turn when Afenyo-Markin was seen in a viral video appearing agitated and attempting to strike a police officer behind a barricade. The footage sparked debate over the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

In a statement issued the same day, the MP for Effutu recounted that he was physically assaulted by a uniformed police officer, identified as Constable Forson, as he approached the barricade to submit a petition on behalf of the demonstrators.

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“He struck me forcefully on the chest, near my heart. The impact dazed me, leaving me short of breath and visibly shaken,” Afenyo-Markin said, adding that senior officers and colleagues quickly intervened to provide assistance.

According to the minority leader, his reaction in the video was a protest against what he described as “reckless and disrespectful conduct” by the officer, rather than an act of aggression on his part.

“What makes this assault particularly egregious is that the officer was already being reprimanded by his superiors and fellow officers. He defiantly responded that he didn’t care who I was,” he added.

Afenyo-Markin expressed concern over the officer’s disappearance from the scene shortly after the incident and vowed to file a formal petition to the Inspector-General of Police to demand a thorough investigation.

He further criticised what he called deliberate attempts to distort the incident in a bid to distract from the core purpose of the protest.

“We must not lose focus. This demonstration is about defending the Constitution and safeguarding the independence of the judiciary. That mission remains unchanged,” he asserted.

In response to the altercation, the Ghana Police Service has invited Afenyo-Markin for questioning as part of their investigation into the incident.