A demonstration by some pressure groups to call for the establishment of a new voters register turned violent on Wednesday when police fired tear gas into the demonstrators and descended on them with whips and batons.

Police claimed the demonstrators were veering off the approved route and headed to the Electoral Commission premises when police had laid out the approved route.

There was a standoff between the two parties, which led to police firing tear gas into the crowd and using water cannons to disperse them.

20 leaders were arrested, with most claiming they were assaulted in some way. These included Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, who was furious with the treatment meted out to him by the police.

The demonstrators were made up of members of Let My Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA), Movement for Change (MFC) and Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG).

In a statement issued by LMVCA signed by its leader Mr David Asante, it said “nothing and absolutely nothing warranted such excessive use of force as applied by the police to the peaceful protest march of the armless members of LMVCA, MFC, AFAG and several other trade groups and associations”