In response to increasing calls for the release of 53 detained anti-Galamsey protesters, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has dismissed accusations that his government is stifling dissent.
Speaking on France24 on Friday, October 4, the President emphasized that peaceful protest is a core tenet of democracy.
The detained protesters, part of the Democracy Hub, were arrested for demonstrating against illegal mining, or ‘galamsey,’ which is devastating water bodies and forest reserves. Legal experts have criticized the state’s handling of the protesters, arguing that their prolonged detention—beyond the legally permissible 48 hours—was overly harsh. Lawyers contend that the charges against the protesters, classified as misdemeanors, warranted immediate bail.
President Akufo-Addo clarified that the judiciary, not the executive branch, is responsible for handling such cases, reiterating the independence of the courts in Ghana. He added that while he supports protests, demonstrators must ensure their actions are lawful, and urged peaceful engagement to address the galamsey crisis.
“I am not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts in Ghana are independent institutions and they have been so through the Fourth Republic. People misconduct themselves and are brought before the court it is for the court, it is for the court to deal with them, it has nothing to do with the executive, and their behaviour is what landed them in trouble with the Police and the court.
“How can a 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.”
The Anti-Galamsey protesters have since filed a lawsuit against the government, with critics accusing the state of abusing legal processes to punish them.
