The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the remand of 39 individuals who participated in the Democracy Hub‘s #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse and #StopGalamsey now demonstration over the weekend.
The Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday remanded 39 demonstrators following charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, namely; unlawful assembly.
A statement signed by the NDC’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi indicated that 28 protesters have been remanded into police custody and 11 others into prison custody.
According to the NDC, it views this action as a grave abuse of power, accusing the governing Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government of despotic behaviour.
“We condemn in no uncertain terms the high-handedness of the Ghana Police Service and their evil collaborators in the despotic Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. It is totally reprehensible for the Police to subject civilian protestors, who are merely expressing their anger against the vexed matter of illegal mining, to such barbaric and inhumane treatment,” the release read in parts.
The NDC described the arrests as brutal, claiming that innocent civilians were unfairly targeted.
The NDC further expressed worry over alleged reports from families and legal representatives that they have been denied access to the arrested protesters, some of whom have been deprived of necessities such as food and water.
This, the NDC believes, further highlights the unjust treatment meted out to the demonstrators, accusing government of misusing police resources to suppress protests while failing to address the illegal mining crisis that has led to severe environmental degradation.
The NDC asserted that the real criminals in this situation are the government officials and ruling party functionaries involved in illegal mining, who should face prosecution instead.
“Mr President, citizens who are merely demanding a stop to the galamsey menace, in respect of which, you promised to put your ‘Presidency on the line’, must not become targets of such brazen misuse of power by your government.
“If you have any conscience left in you, you must immediately instruct your Attorney-General to enter nolle prosequi in respect of the prosecution of these protesters,” it added.
Below is the full statement:
