Ghanaians protest at UN headquarters, demand release of Democracy Hub protestors

A group of Ghanaians gathered at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York to demand the immediate release of the remanded protesters from the Democracy Hub.

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, members of Democracy Hub staged a protest against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

The group urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take swift action to halt illegal mining operations and protect the nation’s water bodies and forests.

Though the protest was intended to be peaceful, violence erupted when some demonstrators clashed with the police.

The Ghana Police Service accused the protesters of blocking roads, dismantling police barriers, and obstructing traffic during their demonstration at the 37 Roundabout in Accra. This resulted in the arrest of over 40 protesters.

On Tuesday, September 24, the court remanded 39 of the arrested protesters into police custody for two weeks, with 11 more protesters remanded the following day, September 25.

In response, Ghanaians living in the U.S. gathered outside the UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday, holding placards and calling for an immediate ban on illegal mining.

They also urged the government to take decisive steps to restore the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.

Emmanuel Kumah, one of the protesters, speaking on their behalf, noted, “We are in solidarity with our brothers who have been arrested for protesting. They are protesting against illegal mining activities that are causing our water bodies to be polluted and poisoned.

“…What is happening now is when people raise their voices against the water pollution, he [Akufo-Addo] uses the police to arrest them, intimidate them, and as we speak, about 50 of our colleagues are in detention because the president controls the judiciary, he controls the police and people are quiet in the country.

“We cannot let this continue. We want the international media, the United Nations to put the president in order because you cannot hold protesters in prisons as well as police cells without legal representation and medical care.”