Scores of gun-wielding police officers swarmed the venue for a press conference organized by political pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG). The pro-opposition group called the news conference at the main lorry park near the 37 Military Hospital to announce its next line of action after the expiration of an ultimatum to the government to reverse recent petroleum price increases. The group’s Director of Operations, Sammy Awuku, told Joy News’ Fiifi Koomson that the police deployment at the venue was intimidating. Although the police said they were there to protect life and property and that it was routine, Mr Awuku said he had never seen any police officers at any of the press conferences AFAG had organized. He however maintained that the group is willing to co-operate with the police in the conduct of the operations. Meanwhile, AFAG says it will organize what it calls a peaceful protest against the fuel price hikes on January 26. Spokesperson for AFAG, Mr Martin Mensah-Korsah said the government, while in opposition, had promised a reduction on taxes but rather "we have increases, we were promised more jobs but today industries are collapsing.” He said conditions on the ground were a marked departure from the promises of the governing NDC. Source: Joy News/Ghana