The Attorney-General who doubled as the Minister for Justice has been encouraged by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) to submit a nolle prosequi in order to speed up the release of the arrested Democracy Hub demonstrators.
53 members of the pressure group, Democracy Hub are currently languishing in police custody after a judge refused them bail.
The group led by lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor were arrested by Ghana Police during a protest against the destruction of all the nation’s water bodies through uncontrolled illegal mining of gold.
A communique was issued on the detention of the demonstrators during the fourth quarter meeting for 2024 at the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS).
“UTAG voiced serious concern over the recent arrests and ongoing detention of demonstrators from the Democracy Hub and called for their immediate release. While UTAG condemned the arrests as violations of the protesters’ fundamental rights and freedoms, the Association acknowledged that the exercise of such rights must occur within the framework of the rule of law.
UTAG urged the Ghana Police Service to respect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and protest, which is in line with the democratic principles that govern the nation. UTAG also encouraged the Attorney General and Minister for Justice to file a nolle prosequi to expedite the release of the detained demonstrators,”
The Akufo Addo-led government has been paying lip service to the fight against galamsey as the activities of illegal mining pose present and future existential threat to the entire country.
his led to an ultimatum given by nearly all civil organizations including UTAG, TUC, Ghana Medical Association to aggressively deal with the menace or else, the social order of the country will be brought to a halt to force the government to do the needful.
