New Government Drops All Charges Against Barker-Vormawor, Other Anti-Galamsey Protestors

• The new Attorney-General has discontinued the case against the Democracy Hub protesters arrested after protesting against illegal mining
• Police officers arrested over 50 persons during the protest between September 21 and 23, 2024
• Now-President John Mahama described police conduct and arrests as heavy-handed at the time

The new Attorney-General has discontinued the case against the Democracy Hub protesters arrested after protesting against illegal mining.

Police arrested over 50 persons during the protest between September 21 and 23, 2024. The arrests were heavily criticised by some observers.

Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Ama Governor, and Felicity Nelson were among some of the protestors arrested.

One of the demonstrators facing prosecution disclosed to YEN.com.gh, via court documents, that the discontinuation of the case occurred on January 29.

"We were waiting for the AG's office to notify the media instead of us doing it," the protestor who wishes to remain anonymous noted.

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Reaction to arrests of anti-galamsey protesters

Protests were held between October 3 and 5, 2024 to demand the release of the protestors, who spent over two weeks in jail before being granted bail.

The hashtags #FreeTheCitizens and #SayNoToGalamsey were used to rally more support for the protests.

The police were criticised for their handling of the anti-illegal mining protestors with now-President John Mahama describing police conduct as heavy-handed and an abuse of human rights.

Police justified these arrests, saying the protestors sought to disturb the peace and had impeded traffic at the 37 intersections, where the protestors gathered.

The attorney-general's office under the Akufo-Addo administration also defended the government's decision to prosecute anti-galamsey protestors.

Then-Attorney General Godfred Dame said protesters must be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

Other cases dropped by new government

YEN.com.gh reported that the new Attorney-General also withdrew all charges against Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni, the former CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board, and businessman Seidu Agongo.

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Opuni and Agongo were standing trial on 27 counts, including charges of defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer.

The case, which has been ongoing since 2018, revolved around the alleged procurement of substandard fertilisers for COCOBOD, resulting in financial losses to the state.

The government has also withdrawn all charges against former Works and Housing Minister, Alhaji Collins Dauda, and four others in the Saglemi Housing Project case.

Source: YEN.com.gh