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A battle line has been drawn between the leadership of the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) and the Greater Accra Regional Police Command as the security agency stops the pressure group�s planned demonstration scheduled for July 2, 2009. In a robust manner, AFAG has responded to the order not to proceed with the protest march, �we hereby indicate our intention not to comply with the prohibition served on us by your letter dated 24th June 2009 and express our preparedness to proceed with the holding of the special event.� AFAG has described as flimsy, the reasons adduced for the Police action, and would go ahead with the protest march. Following an earlier notification by AFAG to the Police dated 18/06/09 about their planned demonstration, the Greater Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, responded to decline the request. According to the Police, they are unable to grant the request because of their preparation towards the impending visit of President Barack Obama. The Police, according to the Regional Commander, is working towards the planned decongestion exercise by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), a task which she added would require 300 police personnel. �Between now and that time, AMA has already requested for 300 personnel for decongestion. Besides, we have earlier catalogued services of planned security operations during the period you have earmarked to have your intended procession and demonstration,� she indicated. The police, she went on, would need personnel to undertake an exercise to flush out criminals so people can go about their lawful duties. The Police reminded AFAG about an earlier discussion during which it was suggested that they postpone the demonstration to another date �which ought to be communicated to us for discussion.� Ms Atinga concluded her letter, �You are therefore reminded that under the Public Order Act 1994 (Act 491) Section 1 (5) you are requested to notify the Police of your willingness to comply with this letter within 48 hours upon receipt.� However, AFAG has stated that much as it recognizes the importance government puts on President Obama�s visit, the demonstration is scheduled to be held a week before his touch down on Ghanaian soil. AFAG considers the reasons adduced by the Police as an attempt to divest them of their constitutional and fundamental human rights to freedom of expression. Continuing, AFAG note that �even in the United States of America where His Excellency Barack Obama is president, the visit of a foreign head of state or an international conference is deemed an auspicious occasion to bring to the fore, matters of enormous national concern. We therefore regard the �Obama Visit� reason as a convenient ploy to impede the exercise of our fundamental human rights.� On the excuse of flushing out criminals and the decongestion of Accra, AFAG described the reasons as lame, and that the former is a regulate mandate of the Police Service. �It goes without saying therefore that the advancement of same as the reason for the refusal of a citizen�s right to demonstrate will amount to a perpetual denial of the right of the citizen to freedom of expression.� In the light of the adduced reasons, AFAG maintained that �suggesting a postponement of the intended procession and demonstration is unacceptable and a gross infraction of the 1992 Constitution.� The Public Order Act, AFAG posits, does not require the approval of the Police Service for a procession and or demonstration, adding that �no Police protection is mandated by the Public Order Act before a procession/or demonstration can take place.� AFAG points at a number of issues informing their demonstration, among them the 30 percent increase in the price of petroleum products and the general rise in prices against the backdrop of existing salaries and wages in the country.