At least seven people are in the grip of the police in the Eastern Region for vandalizing properties of the Somanya office of the Electricity Company of Ghana last Friday.
The arrested men include the Assembly Member of the area, Jones Tetteh who is alleged to have instigated the attack.
Four others are on the run, police have said.
The protest was over the arrest of the ringleader in last week’s demonstration in the Eastern regional town of Somanya.
The unplanned demonstration last Friday was to protest ‘outrageously’ high utility bills charged residents by the Electricity Company of Ghana.
The protesters have set fire into a police vehicle after they refused to release their leader.
Eastern Regional Police PRO, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh told Dzifa Bampoh on Joy FM’s Top Story Monday, there was strong police presence hours after the incident. “We have men from the Counterterrorism Unit and SWAT.”
He said the police officers have been given specific instructions to arrest men who would want to take the law into their hands.
Mr Tetteh said the Assembly Member is being held in custody for “unlawful damage” and for demonstrating without a permit. He said they will push for his prosecution if the investigation reveals “incontrovertible evidence” against him.
“You can imagine that if the police had not taken the action, other people elsewhere would have done same…we are going to ensure that those who are planning attacks are clamped down,” he said.
But the Yilo Krobo Member of Parliament, Magnus Kofi Amoatey said the arrest by the police is to blame for what happened in the area.
“Clearly the police were not ready for the attack that came today [Monday],” he said, adding the police should have been prepared before launching the operation.
Mr Amoatey reiterated his readiness to ensure the punishment of culprits but said that has to be done after tensions had died down.
“I very much regret Friday’s event and that of today [because] I want law and order to reign supreme but let us be careful,” he said.
