As Arise Ghana protesters and police officers battle, it appears that there is a misunderstanding on the demonstration grounds at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
After some crowd members opted to push against the police, who had erected a roadblock to prevent protesters from going from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle toward the Ringroad Central area, tear gas was thrown into the crowd by police for roughly 15 minutes.
The confrontation took place after the organizers met with senior police officers to debate the best course of action in the wake of obstruction as protesters attempted to leave Obra Spot.
Local police officers had advised organizers to follow the court-designated path for the protest, which is from Obra Spot via Independence Square.
The Arise Ghana demonstration’s organizers, however, insisted on using the Ring Road Central area through the Ako Adjei Interchange to reach the ministries and refused to accede to this.
The organizers returned to speak to the crowd about the situation after this discussion with the police, but during this time, irate protesters rebelled against the police and attempted to push back the barricade.
To disperse the crowd, which was now shoving and throwing things at the police in addition to pushing back against them, the police used tear gas.
Since 500 police officers have been sent to the region to deal with the problem, there is a significant police presence.
There are still pockets of protesters dispersed throughout the area, burning tires and throwing stones at passing police.