The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said he is not against protests and that his government will not make any attempt to suppress the views of Ghanaians.
According to the President, he would be the last to have qualms with protesters, as his political career was largely aided by leading demonstrations.
“How can the president, whose political career was aided by leading protests, have problems with protests? I don’t have problems with protests. And nothing is done in Ghana to prevent people from airing their views on anything,” he said.
A pressure group called Democracy Hub staged a 3-day protest against environmental destruction, particularly illegal mining, also known as galamsey. The group, mainly the youth called on the authorities to end galamsey, which has destroyed almost every water body in the country.
Speaking to France24 on Friday, October 4, 2024, President Akufo-Addo said the protesters in court are facing the law because of their misconduct, and that the executive has no hand in it.
President Akufo-Addo debunked claims by the opposition party that his government was trying to stifle dissent.
In a sharp rebuttal, the outgoing President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo, said “I’m not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts in Ghana are independent institutions and they have been all through this period of the fourth republic.”
He added that “people misconduct themselves and they’re brought before court. It’s for the court to deal with them. It has nothing to do with politics. It has nothing to do with the executive. And their behaviour is what lands them in problem with the police and with the courts. It’s not the protests.”
PROTEST
The 3-day demonstration that led to the arrest of some of the protesters ended on Monday, September 23, 2024.
The police, in a statement, said the protest witnessed acts of lawlessness and public disorder, resulting in the arrest of over 40 protesters, including the leader, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who removed the key to one of the police vehicles and threw it away.
The protest took place at the 37 roundabout and witnessed moments of standoffs between the demonstrators and the police.
On Sunday, September 22, 2024 the police gave a third update and announced that the Democracy Hub demonstrators “unlawfully took over the 37 Intersection” and engaged in acts “intended to cause extreme inconvenience to the general public.”
The demonstrators blocked the intersection in all directions with vehicles and stones, setting fire in the intersection and playing football on the road. Later that day, the police announced the arrest of 42 people, mostly the Democracy Hub demonstrators, who were engaged in various acts of lawlessness at the 37 Intersection in Accra.
“The demonstrators, who had unlawfully assembled at the 37 Intersection, were seen attacking police officers performing their lawful duties, entering a police vehicle to remove the ignition key and throwing it away, pushing down police crash barriers, obstructing traffic, causing unlawful damage and disturbing the peace, among others,” the statement said.
BAIL
Since the arrest and detention of the protesters, calls have been made for them to be granted bail.
Over the weekend, some youth embarked on a protest and demanded the release of the protesters in jail.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has said that he will engage the prosecution to push for bail for the protesters at the next hearing.
