Ghanaians in U.S. protest at UN headquarters, demand release of Democracy Hub protesters
A group of Ghanaians gathered outside the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York to demand the immediate release of protesters from the Democracy Hub who were remanded following a demonstration against illegal mining in Ghana.
On September 21, 2024, the Democracy Hub staged a protest calling on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take swift action to stop illegal mining, known as galamsey, which is harming the nation’s water bodies and forests. The protest, initially intended to be peaceful, turned violent after clashes with the police, leading to the arrest of over 40 demonstrators.
On Tuesday, 39 of the arrested protesters were remanded in police custody for two weeks, with 11 more detained the following day. In response, Ghanaians in the U.S. held placards outside the UN, urging international intervention to stop illegal mining and calling for the release of the detained protesters.
Speaking for the group, Emmanuel Kumah condemned the arrests, accusing the government of using police force to silence opposition to galamsey, and called for the UN and international media to hold the president accountable.
“…What is happening now is when people raise their voices against the water pollution, he [Akufo-Addo] uses the police to arrest them, intimidate them, and as we speak, about 50 of our colleagues are in detention because the president controls the judiciary, he controls the police and people are quiet in the country.
“We cannot let this continue. We want the international media, the United Nations to put the president in order because you cannot hold protesters in prisons as well as police cells without legal representation and medical care.”
