A three-day #StopGalamseyNow and #FreeTheCitizens demonstration was organized by a youth-led group known as Concerned Citizens Against Galamsey, advocating against the devastating impact of illegal mining activities.
The demonstration commenced on October 3, 2024, as the group marched with a contingent of concerned Ghanaians from Legon, Okponglo in Accra to the Accra Sports Stadium.
There, several individuals were given the platform to voice their concerns regarding the harmful impacts of galamsey and to call for the release of arrested protestors from the Democracy Hub protest, which also aimed to end illegal mining in the country.
The organizers of the protest had previously made it clear that the demonstration was not affiliated with any political party but consisted of concerned citizens unhappy with the arrest of fellow protestors and the deteriorating state of Ghana’s natural resources.
This message, however, was lost on one gentleman among the protestors.
Taking the microphone, he infuriated the audience by launching into a campaign for Alan Kyerematen, the flagbearer of the Afrafranto political party.
“Let me take this opportunity. Is there anybody celebrating their birthday here?… Well, there is a leader, a person who has done great things for the youth of this country, especially those who have been incarcerated. For your information, Honourable Alan Kojo Kyerematen paid for the legal fees of your fellow colleagues that have been incarcerated. He has been feeding them since they were remanded in police custody…”
The protestor however did not complete his remarks when the crowd began chanting, “Away… away… away!” along with clapping, indicating they were not interested in what he was saying and did not support it.
This reaction from the audience denied him the opportunity to continue with his remarks and had to shamefully step down.
Founder of the Royal House Chapel International, Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah, has appealed to the government and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to show leniency by granting bail to the Democracy Hub protestors.
The protestors, who were arrested following demonstrations against illegal mining (galamsey) and economic hardships, remain in custody after violent clashes with police.
During a Sunday service on September 29, Apostle Ankrah expressed his concern that detaining these individuals could worsen the situation by provoking further unrest. He emphasized that imprisoning the protestors does not address the underlying issues facing the nation.
“I want to plead with the Inspector General of Police and the government, the young boys and girls who have been arrested because of the demonstration against illegal mining and against the hardship that is going on in the nation, I am pleading with the government and the court and the IGP—those young boys be released. Give them bail,” the preacher urged.
Apostle Ankrah also advised the youth to exercise caution during future protests, calling for peaceful and non-violent demonstrations.
“We are advising anyone when you are going to have your democratic demonstrations, please be matching with your slogans and your placards; that’s all that we want to see. We don’t want violence in this nation,” he added.
The Apostle General of Royalhouse Chapel International, Sam Korankye Ankrah has called on the Inspector General of Police, the Government and other stakeholders for the immediate release of the detained #StopGalamsey protesters.
The recent protests, which occurred between September 21 and 23, started peacefully but escalated into violent confrontations between demonstrators and the police. Protestors were accused of blocking roads, dismantling barriers, obstructing traffic, and setting property on fire at the 37 Roundabout in Accra.
As a result, 53 protesters were arrested, with 9 being sent to prison while the rest remain in police custody.
Defense lawyers argued during a bail hearing that their clients were enduring harsh conditions, while the prosecution insisted that the detainees were well cared for, even receiving meals from the popular local restaurant, ‘Papaye’. This claim sparked outrage from the defense.
Despite pleas for their release, the judge denied bail, citing concerns about the protesters’ unknown addresses and ordering them to remain in custody until October 8. Following the court proceedings, the detained protesters expressed their discontent by singing patriotic songs.
Eleven Democracy Hub protestors who appeared in court on Wednesday have been remanded into police custody and are set to return for another court hearing on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
Each of the individuals pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit a crime.
With this latest development, the total number of demonstrators currently remanded by the Accra Circuit Court has risen to 50.
Notably, Lead Convenor of Democracy Hub, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, and Funny Otoo were absent from yesterday’s proceedings due to reported illnesses requiring medical attention, as stated by the police.
The eleven individuals face charges similar to those brought against the 39 protestors remanded earlier, including conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, assault on a public officer, along with an additional charge.
Following the arrest of over 40 demonstrators on Sunday, September 22, the streets around the 37 Military Hospital and El Wak Sports Stadium were deserted on Monday, as protesters did not turn up for the third and final day of the planned Democracy Hub protest.
Despite the lack of protesters, police maintained a strong presence to prevent any disturbances. JoyNews reports that by 11:50 am, only two individuals had shown up, holding placards and standing about 30 meters from the police barricade while chanting, “Stop galamsey.”
Both protesters were swiftly arrested by the police and transported to the central police unit.
In light of the arrests and restrictions, the protesters have announced their intention to move their demonstrations online via social media platforms.
Additionally, the police have declared one of the protest leaders, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, wanted following the Sunday arrests. However, Barker-Vormawor has stated that he is not in hiding and is ready to cooperate with the authorities.
The parliament said they cancelled an event because the building was damaged during protests on Wednesday. The police used water, gas, and spray against the protesters.
On Wednesday, the lawmakers agreed to a second look at the law that would make it necessary for media and non-profit groups to register as working for a foreign government if they get more than 20 percent of their money from outside the country.
The last reading was supposed to happen in mid-May. It is not known if canceling Thursday’s meeting will slow down the bill’s progress. The ruling party in Georgia, called Georgian Dream, took back a similar idea last year because many people protested against it.
83 out of 150 lawmakers in Georgia voted yes on the bill for the second time, while 23 voted no.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili does not agree with the governing party and has spoken out against the bill. She said she will reject the bill if Parliament approves it. However, the ruling party can reject the veto and request the speaker of the parliament to approve the bill and make it a law.
The EU’s foreign policy group recently criticized Georgian Dream for bringing back the law. They said it’s a big problem for media freedom in the country, which is important for the EU to accept Georgia.
Amid widespread protests against the government’s economic policies, Nigeria’s Central Bank has opted to increase interest rates as part of efforts to mitigate soaring inflation.
With inflation nearing 30%, the cost of living has become increasingly burdensome for millions, particularly regarding food affordability.
President Bola Tinubu’s decision to eliminate a costly subsidy and devalue the national currency, the naira, last year has sparked considerable discontent.
The resulting tripling of fuel prices and inflationary pressures have fueled public outrage.
Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Wale Edun, emphasized the necessity of patience, asserting that these reforms will ultimately yield positive economic outcomes for the nation.
The National Peace Council (NPC) has conveyed its profound apprehension over the method employed by the police to apprehend peaceful protestors during Thursday’s Democracy Hub demonstration.
During an interview on Citi Prime News on Friday, September 22, George Amoh, the Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, expressed concern, emphasizing that the arrest of peaceful demonstrators is detrimental to the country’s democratic processes.
Mr. Amoh underscored that the right to engage in peaceful protest is a fundamental human right crucial for a robust democracy.
The NPC further urged the police to exhibit restraint in their interactions with protestors.
“Every Ghanaian has a right to demonstrate, it is a right that is enshrined in the constitution that has to be protected and jealously guarded. If there is a group that wants to demonstrate in support of an activity or disagree with a particular thing, I think the laws allow for that and the authorities should ensure that such exercises are done within the remits of the law and those also exercising those rights must also respect [the law] but it is unfortunate that yesterday didn’t go that way.
“Some had to be arrested which is not too healthy for our democracy. We need to create an environment for people to protest, both the institutions of the state, the Police and the citizens,” Mr Amoh told Citi News’ Zoe Abu Baidoo.
Mr. Amoh also cautioned the protestors against taking matters into their own hands and advised them to show restraint.
He emphasized that while protestors have the right to engage in demonstrations, it is imperative that they do so peacefully and in an organized manner.
“My advice is that they cannot use lawlessness to address perceived lawlessness, so if you have not been permitted by the same arrangement that gave you the right, you would have to exercise restraint. So if there is an injunction, or your plan to go on demonstration has been curtailed by the same institution then just don’t do it because if you do it then you are also being unlawful.
“If you don’t do it tomorrow, there will be another time, so let us all respect the law for the sake of our democracy. If we allow small issues to divide us then we are opening up for insurgents who are lurking around,” Mr Amoh said.
The #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstrations commenced on September 21, 2023, when a group of protestors assembled at the 37 bus terminal in Accra with the intention of marching to the Jubilee House, the administrative center of the Ghanaian government.
Law enforcement authorities dispersed the demonstrators and took 49 of them into custody.
Despite these setbacks, the protestors have vowed to persist in their demonstrations until the government addresses their grievances.
Ghana currently grapples with a multitude of issues, including economic hardships, escalating inflation, and a high cost of living.
The organizers of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest assert that their actions reflect a growing discontent with the government’s handling of these challenges.
Several prominent members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have expressed their worries and criticized the Ghana Police Service’s handling of the peaceful rallies in the wake of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests and the ensuing illegal police actions.
Sharp criticisms have been leveled inside the NPP ranks in response to the Day 1 arrests of 49 demonstrators and the following maltreatment of the detainees.
Former President Kufuor
In order to achieve effective government and sustain peace and security, John Agyekum Kufuor has underlined his steadfast position on the value of human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and free and fair elections.
He stressed the need of adhering to these ideals in a tweet on September 21, 2023, particularly in light of the continuing protests.
Kufour’s tweet read: “Respect for human rights, democracy, rule of law, coupled with free and fair elections are essential to good governance and development of peace and security everywhere.”
Akosua Manu
The National Youth Authority’s (NYA) deputy chief executive officer, Akosua Manu, criticized the police’s conduct during the demonstrations.
She highlighted that regardless of whether an injunction was in effect, the police were not authorized to treat the protesters illegally unjustly.
Manu stated, “Injunction or not, the police cannot treat young protestors in this manner. To protest is a right enshrined under the Constitution, and the legitimacy of a protest is not dependent on the cause. IGP Dampare, respectfully establish democratic order and safeguards the rights of the protestors.”
Richard Ahiagbah
The NPP’s Director of Communication, Richard Ahiagbah, agreed that the right to demonstrate is a crucial democratic right.
He condemned the police for stopping the protesters and emphasized that such behavior was unacceptable.
Ahiagbah expressed his views, saying, “The ability of the people to demonstrate is an inherent democratic right. Therefore, the decision to stand in the way of citizens’ exercise of this fundamental right is unacceptable.”
In the other part of his tweet, he addressed the protesters: “I don’t agree with the derogatory caption of the Presidency by the organizers of the demonstration, but impeding their right to peaceful assembly is an affront to democracy–plain and simple.”
Ahiagbah continued by pointing out that peaceful protests had previously taken place during the presidency of President Akufo-Addo and questioned the timing and necessity of the police interventions during the most recent protests.
Background
On the first day of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protests organized by the Democracy Hub on September 21, a group of young activists were subject to unlawful actions by the police. These activists, numbering 49 in total, had taken to the streets to demand action against the prevailing economic crisis and corruption.
The illegal arrests, particularly in the manner in which they were carried out by the police, sparked widespread criticism. This criticism centered on the belief that these actions were obstructing the protesters’ constitutional right to assemble and voicing concerns, and that the police had resorted to heavy-handed tactics.
Subsequently, the police transported the detainees to the regional headquarters before dispersing them to approximately eight police stations scattered across the capital city. Throughout this process, fellow protesters and lawyers worked diligently to secure bail for those who had been unjustly detained.
During this tumultuous period, other journalists and protesters who had gathered, particularly at the Accra Regional Command, found themselves subjected to various forms of police aggression. This included shoving, unwarranted detention, confiscation of their phones, and, in some unfortunate instances, physical assault.
In their initial statement issued on the same day, the police defended the illegal arrests by citing the protesters’ alleged defiance of a court injunction. However, the protesters vehemently denied that they had been properly served with the legal notice.
In a subsequent statement, the police addressed the reported arrest of a BBC journalist and his cameraman, dismissing these reports as unfounded.
As the day came to a close, GhanaWeb’s investigations revealed that nearly all the unlawfully detained protesters had been released on bail. The question now lingers as to whether Day Two of the three-day protest, targeting the government’s seat, the Jubilee House, will proceed as planned on September 22, 2023.
“In partnership with ANDE, we are discussing and promoting the role of small and growing businesses in delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); because, as it stands now, we are not on track to meet the 2023 goals we set as a global community.
“Small and growing businesses have an important role to play in helping meet these goals. They are the engine of growth in Ghana and most developing countries of Africa. They have already contributed so much to Ghana’s economy by creating jobs; and if they can grow, then they can do so much more than we see now,” she said.
Injunction or not, the police cannot treat young protestors in this manner. To protest is a right enshrined under the Constitution and the legitimacy of a protest is not dependent on the cause. IGP Dampare, respectfully establish democratic order and safeguard the rights of the…
The ability of the people to demonstrate is an inherent democratic right. Therefore, the decision to stand in the way of citizens' exercise of this fundamental right is unacceptable. I don't agree with the derogatory caption of the Presidency by the organizers of the…
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized the security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for their actions that resulted in the deaths of numerous protesters who were demonstrating against UN forces.
According to the government, at least 43 individuals lost their lives when soldiers dispersed a protest against UN peacekeepers in the city of Goma in the eastern part of the country on Wednesday. Additionally, dozens were injured, and over 150 individuals were detained, including the leader of a religious group.
Initially, authorities had reported that only seven people had died, which included a police officer who had been killed by stoning.
In a statement, HRW called for the suspension, investigation, and fair and public trials of officials responsible for authorizing the use of unlawful lethal force. HRW also condemned the troops’ actions, stating that they appeared to have fired into a crowd to prevent a demonstration against the UN, characterizing it as an “extremely callous and illegal method of enforcing a ban.”
HRW revealed that it had verified the authenticity of two videos that showed soldiers placing bodies onto the back of a truck.
The government has announced that it has initiated an investigation into the incident.
