The Ghana Police Service has intensified security in Sunyani ahead of a planned demonstration by supporters of the New Patriotic Party.
The protest, dubbed “Yensuro Ahunahuna Demo,” is expected to draw large numbers of party supporters onto the principal streets of the regional capital.
According to Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, police officers have been deployed across key locations in the city to ensure law and order throughout the march.
He said the police had already met with organisers of the demonstration and were hopeful that participants would follow the approved route and conduct themselves peacefully.
Personnel from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department have also been positioned at major intersections to manage traffic, while standby teams and plain-clothed officers have been deployed to respond to any potential threats.
The demonstration follows the arrest of Abubakar Yakubu and Kwame Baffoe, who are the New Patriotic Party Sunyani East Constituency Communications Officer and Bono Regional Chairman respectively.
Supporters of the party say the arrests represent an attack on free speech and democracy.
At the Sunyani Jubilee Park, where demonstrators were expected to gather, there was already a strong police presence early Wednesday morning as protesters arrived wearing black T-shirts branded with the slogan of the demonstration.
One of the conveners, Gideon Kyeremeh Amoah, said the march would move from the STU roundabout through the regional police headquarters road, continue through the Absa and Florence Maternity routes, and end at the Regional Coordinating Council, where a petition would be presented to Joseph Akwaboa.
