President Akufo-Addo has stated that he sees no issue with the Ghana Police Service’s arrest of some protesters during the #StopGalamsey demonstration.
He indicated that the protesters’ actions led to their arrest and that the matter will be handled by the courts.
In an interview with France 24 TV, the president clarified that he is not accountable for the arrests and will not interfere with the court’s decision regarding their remand. “I’m not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts in Ghana are independent institutions and they have been all through this period of the Fourth Republic. People misconduct themselves and they’re brought before court. It’s for the court to deal with them. It has nothing to do with politics or the executive. “Their behavior is what lands them in problems with the police and with the courts. It’s not the protest. How can the president, who himself’s political career was aided by leading protests, have problems with protests? I don’t have problems with protests. And nothing is done in Ghana to prevent people from airing their views on anything,” Akufo-Addo said.
The recent protest aimed to raise awareness about the environmental destruction caused by galamsey, which has significantly harmed Ghana’s natural resources, including its rivers and forests.
However, President Akufo-Addo contends that the protest was politically motivated, intended to undermine his government in the lead-up to the December 7 elections.
Meanwhile, Organised Labour has announced plans to go on strike on October 10, 2024, if the government does not respond to demands to put an end to galamsey.