The Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh has said that the only instance the police can use harmful force on protestors is when their lives are at stake.
Speaking on Wednesday to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, the IGP said there are no hard rules when the lives of the police is threatened.
“Honourable Chair, you and I know that in very fluid situations, there are no hard and fast rules when the lives of the Police officers are threatened, that they should go through all these. So, depending on the nature of the situation you are dealing with, then you can go through all these,” he said.
He stressed that police only go for live amour when it sees protestors with weapons capable of being used to kill or injure the officer.
“Let me add that if you are dealing with unarmed demonstrators, then you will not go for live amour, but when you see somebody in the crowd holding a weapon which is capable of being used to kill or injure a Police officer, our laws permit us to use lethal force to eliminate that threat to the officers on duty. So, it depends on the situation you are dealing with,” he added
