Akufo-Addo Upset By GJA Chief Calling Him Out Over Arrest Of Anti-Galamsey Protesters

• In a video that has gone viral, President Nana Akufo-Addo appeared to chide GJA president, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour
• The GJA chief had earlier appealed to the president, the police, and the judiciary to release the Democracy Hub protesters
• He said the arrest, detainment, and subsequent remand of the protestors was an infringement on 'rights and freedoms'

President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, appeared upset by the head of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) calling him out over the arrest of the Democracy Hub protesters.

At the 2024 GJA Media Awards on September 28, 2024, Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor appealed to the president, the government, the police, and the judiciary to free those behind bars.

Dwumfuor stated that while both sides of the protest had been in the wrong, the arrest and subsequent detainment of the protesters was an infringement on their rights and freedom.

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He further noted that the Accra Circuit Court’s decision to remand them for two weeks for alleged misdemeanours was too extreme and impeded the upholding of basic human rights.

Following his speech, which received rapturous applause, the GJA President took his seat near the President.

In a viral video on social media, President Akufo-Addo appeared to chide Dwumfuor for his sharp criticism.

The President was one of the speakers at the 2024 GJA Media Awards and had called on Ghanaian journalists to fight against misinformation, particularly with the December general elections coming up.

Akufo-Addo had emphasised the media's role in 'shaping informed democratic choices' and urged journalists to aim for being accurate over creating sensationalism, given their role as keepers of the truth.

Per Prime News, he said:

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"I remain deeply committed to ensuring that the media in Ghana remains free, vibrant, and independent. Your work is essential to the strength of our democracy, the integrity of our elections, and the progress of our nation."

Netizens react to video of Akufo-Addo

YEN.com.gh has collated reactions of Ghanaians to the video of the President seemingly chiding Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor.

@Inkredible_B commented:

"The NPP is one political party that should be kept far away from anything leadership & governance of this country for the next century!!

@efo_phil commented:

"I love this bold steps taken by the GJA president. Man is him #FreetheCitizens #EndGalamseyNow"

@mattenasu commented:

"Who cares??? He thinks he’s the best thing that happens to Ghana. The most corrupt idiot of president ever in history of Ghana.

@Briscohood commented:

"I don’t see anything wrong with the speech. Only a dictator will not listen to the appeals and interests of his people."

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@CFCsayuti commented:

"Regardless the GJA presidoo did the lord’s work #StopGalamsey"

Khojo_Hazard 🇬🇭🇺🇸 @Khojo_HazardCR7 commented:

"I was super shocked they didn't mute his mic after some seconds into his speech 🤭"

Anti-galamsey protesters arrested, denied bail

YEN.com.gh previously reported that a number of anti-galamsey protesters had been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime by the Accra Circuit Court.

Following a series of protests between September 21 and 23, 2024, members of Democracy Hub were arrested and appeared before the court last week.

During proceedings, the protesters pleaded not guilty to charges specified as unlawful assembly but were denied bail and were remanded into police custody.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh