President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that he sees nothing wrong with the Ghana Police Service’s arrest of some protesters during the #StopGalamsey demonstration. He asserted that their actions led to the arrests, which will now be addressed by the courts.
In an interview with France 24 TV, the president clarified that he is not responsible for the arrests and will not interfere with the judicial process. “I’m not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts in Ghana are independent institutions and have remained so throughout this period of the Fourth Republic. When individuals misconduct themselves, they are brought before the court. It is for the court to deal with them, and this matter is unrelated to politics or the executive,” Akufo-Addo explained.
He emphasized that the behavior of the individuals involved, rather than the protest itself, is what led to their issues with the police and the courts. “How can the president, whose political career was supported by leading protests, have a problem with protests? I don’t have issues with protests. Nothing is done in Ghana to prevent people from expressing their views on any matter,” he added.
The recent protest aimed to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by galamsey, a practice that has significantly harmed Ghana’s natural resources, including its rivers and forests. However, President Akufo-Addo suggested that the demonstration was politically motivated, intended to tarnish the reputation of his government ahead of the upcoming December 7 polls.
In response to ongoing concerns about galamsey, Organised Labour has announced plans to initiate a strike on October 10, 2024, if the government does not act on their demands to address the issue.
