By Makiza Micheline Latifa
Spokesperson of the NDC running mate, James Agyenim-Boateng is calling for the release of over thirty individuals who were detained during the #ReoccupyJulorbi protest against illegal mining and economic mismanagement.
According to him, the actions of the Ghana Police Service is an abuse of power that undermines the democratic rights of Ghanaians to voice their concerns.
On Saturday, September 22, 2024, several protesters taking part in a protest organized by Democracy Hub were picked up by the Police for what it termed as engagement in unlawful activity.
A statement released by the group however strongly condemned these actions by the Ghana Police Service, demanding that they respect the rights of every individual in their custody. It further urged all concerned citizens, civil society organizations and the international community to join them in demanding justice, transparency, and humane treatment for all protesters.
This issue has got tongues wagging, with some describing the Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government as authoritarian, vindictive and repressive.
Spokesperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate, James Agyenim-Boateng is one of such persons. According to him, the government should rather focus on tackling the illegal mining menace which has plagued the country rather than arresting peaceful protesters who have a legitimate cause for action.
“Those who are behind this illegal mining are rather walking about freely, smiling all the way to the bank and the people who are rather protesting and saying that the illegal mining that is going on in the bushes is affecting our water bodies, causing deformities in newborn babies and affecting the health of the people are being arrested. Their call is legitimate and I think that mining ought to be done within the scope that the NDC is proposing which is responsible mining he said.”
According to him, a future NDC government will promote responsible mining and give people in the mining communities requisite training, expect advice, and attach mining engineers to them to facilitate their work in a manner that is expected as stated in the party’s manifesto.
He further revealed that the NDC running mate, Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang is extremely concerned, alarmed and finds it reprehensible how the police brutalized the protesters whose only crime was peacefully demonstrating against illegal mining.
“Prof is deeply concerned about this situation, these innocent protesters have been beaten, manhandled, denied access to their families, denied access to their lawyers and even denied food and water over offenses that ordinarily one ought to be granted bail and that is concerning for anybody who cares about Ghana’s democracy he added.”
The protest, which was intended to be peaceful, turned violent when some demonstrators clashed with the police.