Anti-Illegal Mining Protestors Granted GH¢70,000 Bail Each After 2 Weeks In Police Custody

• Nine anti-illegal mining protestors have been granted bail after over two weeks in police custody.
• Lawyer and activist, Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio, is notably among the first batch of persons to get bail
• Courage Nobi, a spokesperson for the movement for change, told YEN.com.gh his grouping was worried about the abuse of citizens' rights

A High Court in Accra has granted bail to nine anti-illegal mining protestors after over two weeks in police custody.

The court, presided over by Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame, admitted them to bail of GH¢70,000 each with two sureties.

As part of the bail conditions, the protestors are to report to the police once weekly

The first bail recipients are Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio, Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, Ziblim Yakubu, Oheneba Prempeh, Philip Owusu Kobina, Akisibik Desmond, Von Coffie, and Sadik Yakubu.

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The court is expected to hear other bail applications for the detained protestors. Fifty-three persons were arrested in connection with protests between September 21 and 23.

Subsequent protests between October 3 and 5 were held to demand the release of the protestors and action on illegal mining.

The protests have also gained significant traction on social media, with the hashtags "FreeTheCitizens" and "SayNoToGalamsey" being used to rally more support.

Alan Kyeramaten's Movement from change has been critical of the legal processes against the protestors.

Courage Nobi, a spokesperson for the movement, told YEN.com.gh they were worried about the blatant abuse of citizens' rights.

"One of our key youth leaders is among the people... the entire principle of what is happening is what we are against.”

Attorney General defends decision to prosecute protesters

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Attorney-General Godfred Dame defended the government's decision to prosecute anti-galamsey miners.

Despite calls for their release, he said protesters must be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

He said the protesters had exceeded freedom of expression into conduct described as unconstitutional.

Reaction to arrest of protestors

YEN.com.gh reported that Amnesty International, CDD Ghana and some other groups have condemned the conduct of the police in their handling of the anti-illegal mining protestors.

Former President John Mahama also described the police conduct as heavy-handed and an abuse of human rights.

Police justified the arrests, saying the protestors sought to disturb the peace and impede traffic at the 37 intersections.

The police added that the arrested demonstrators also attempted to block sections of the roads with a vehicle, push down the mounted barriers and attempt their personnel at the location.

Proofread by Berlinda Entsie, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh