Presidential candidate for Movement for Change, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, has commended the Ghana Police Service for the professional manner in which they handled the recent protest organised by the Democracy Hub, a pressure group in Accra.
Addressing a news conference in Accra last Sunday, Mr. Kyerematen, however, said though he was happy about the way the police conducted themselves during the period of the demonstration, he was not enthused about the post-arrest treatment of the protesters, which to him was “unlawful and unprofessional.”
The protesters, largely youth from the Democracy Hub, had taken to the streets to express frustration over government’s inability to effectively tackle illegal mining, a practice that has caused widespread environmental degradation.
Mr. Kyerematen acknowledged the importance of the protest, noting that illegal mining or galamsey, constitutes an existential threat to the country’s natural resources.
However, he was quick to criticise the handling of the arrested individuals after the demonstration.
“In spite of this development, I must say to the credit of the Ghana Police Service and the contingent of officers who had oversight responsibility for the demonstration that they acted professionally and with decency in the management and control of the crowd of protesters over the three days of protests,” Mr. Kyerematen said.
However, he noted a stark contrast in the post-arrest treatment of the protesters.
“Regrettably, the post-arrest management of the protesters by the Police has been both unlawful and unprofessional, to the extent of denying those arrested access to legal counsel, to their family members and essential medication, food and water,” he added.
Basic Rights and Access
Mr. Kyerematen emphasised that the protesters’ right to legal representation and basic necessities had been blatantly disregarded.
This, he said, was a violation of constitutional principles, particularly in a democratic state like Ghana, where every individual is entitled to these basic rights, even when detained.
The presidential candidate decried the charges brought against the protesters, including accusations of “conspiracy to commit crime and unlawful assembly.”
Judicial Discretion and Constitutional Rights
Mr. Kyerematen also criticised the judiciary for refusing to grant bail to the arrested individuals. He called the decision an “abuse of judicial discretion,” especially considering that the case in question involved misdemeanors.
“The refusal of the presiding judges to admit the accused persons to bail in a criminal case in the nature of a misdemeanor is, in my respectful opinion, an abuse of judicial discretion on firm grounds of constitutional law, human rights, judicial practice and decided cases,” Mr. Kyerematen argued.
He reiterated that the continued detention of the protesters was both unlawful and unconstitutional.
“The continued detention of these young people is not only a violation of their legal rights, but also reflects a worrying trend of intolerance toward dissenting voices in our democracy,” he stressed.
Mr. Kyerematen appealed to the Attorney General to review the charges against the protesters and consider their immediate release.
He called for the use of a “nolle prosequi” to terminate the case or, at the very least, not oppose the granting of bail.
“I appeal to the learned Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who should strive to protect the legal rights of young people without compromising his professional integrity,” Mr. Kyerematen said.
Fight against Illegal Mining
Mr. Kyerematen also took the opportunity to address the broader issue of illegal mining in Ghana. He stressed that galamsey poses a severe threat to the nation’s water bodies, farmlands and forests, while highlighting the failure of successive governments to deal effectively with the issue.
“Galamsey constitutes an existential threat to Ghana. From colonial times through to Independence and the immediate post-Independence era, Ghanaians have been engaged in small-scale mining without a threat to the environment, land and river bodies. Regrettably, however, the last 20 years have seen unprecedented levels of environmental destruction, due to galamsey,” he said
Alan Kyerematen criticised both the NPP and NDC for their lack of political will in addressing the problem, calling their responses to illegal mining superficial.
He reiterated his commitment to tackling the issue head-on through a comprehensive policy that includes a one-year ban on small-scale mining, the restoration of degraded lands and the introduction of new legislation to safeguard the environment.
He called for immediate reform in the treatment of protesters and a commitment to address galamsey resonates with many Ghanaians who are eager for decisive leadership on these critical issues.
“We must not stand by unconcerned as the dark clouds of chaos and anarchy gather in our beloved country,” Alan Kyerematen warned.
