An Accra High Court has ruled against the Ghana Police Service, ordering the institution to pay GH¢150,000 in damages for violating the fundamental rights of journalist Bridget Otoo and two others during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Brew, also directed the police service to pay GH¢30,000 in legal costs incurred by the applicants.
According to the court, officers involved in the incident acted outside the law and breached constitutional protections guaranteed to citizens.
Justice Brew reportedly described the conduct of the police during the protest as “unconstitutional,” citing incidents involving assault, unlawful detention, and obstruction of personal freedoms.
Details presented before the court indicated that Bridget Otoo was physically assaulted during the protest, with reports stating that her blouse was torn in the process.
Another applicant, Vanessa Edotom Boateng, was reportedly unlawfully detained and had her mobile phone confiscated after attempting to record alleged misconduct by officers.
The third applicant, George Gyening Anyang, was allegedly assaulted while livestreaming at a regional police station.
According to court documents, officers reportedly slapped, punched, and struck him with a baton and metallic belt.
In addition to the financial compensation, the court ordered the Ghana Police Service to issue an unqualified apology to the victims in the state-owned Daily Graphic newspaper.
The #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest gained national attention after demonstrators took to the streets to demand better governance, economic accountability, and social reforms.
The protest also reignited public debate over police conduct during demonstrations and citizens’ constitutional rights to free expression and assembly.