NDC Condemns Detention of Protesters Following Anti-Mining Demonstrations
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sharply criticised the remand of 28 protesters from the Democracy Hub into police custody, along with 11 others held in prison custody, following a ruling by the Accra Circuit Court on September 24.
The demonstrators had been charged with unlawful assembly during protests against illegal mining, a practice widely blamed for severe environmental damage across Ghana.
In a strongly-worded statement, the opposition party accused the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration of authoritarian conduct, condemning what it called a heavy-handed police response to largely peaceful demonstrations.
The NDC argued that the charges were disproportionate to the alleged offences, which it characterised as misdemeanours, and underscored that the right to protest is fundamental to democratic governance.
The party also raised concerns about reports of mistreatment, including claims that detainees were being denied access to legal counsel, food, and water. Such actions, the NDC said, highlight a broader pattern of civil rights abuses under the current government.
The protests, organised by the Democracy Hub, sought to highlight the government’s failure to effectively combat illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which has been blamed for extensive deforestation and pollution of water bodies.
The NDC’s statement pointedly called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to honour his earlier promise to address the issue, citing his declaration that he had put his presidency “on the line” to stop illegal mining.
In a scathing critique, the NDC argued that the real perpetrators of criminal behaviour were government officials and ruling party figures allegedly involved in galamsey activities, and urged the administration to refocus its efforts on prosecuting them rather than suppressing dissent.
The opposition also called for the Attorney-General to halt the prosecution of the protesters, framing the issue as a test of the government’s commitment to democratic principles.
