Dr. Michael Augustus Akagbor, Senior CDD PROGS Officer in charge of Human Rights, has accused the state of deliberately suppressing the voices of young Ghanaians through the prolonged detention of 54 protesters from the Democracy Hub Group.
Speaking on ABC in the Morning on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Dr. Akagbor stressed, “This is a deliberate attempt to stifle the voice of young people,” calling for the release of the detained youth.
Dr. Akagbor highlighted the Ghana Police’s handling of the situation, noting that the arrested individuals were remanded for two weeks without proper justification.
“We need the Police to temper the way they are dealing with these young people. They need to let them go,” he urged, emphasizing that the protesters pose no threat and can be located if required to appear in court.
He warned that the state’s actions could set a dangerous precedent and referenced similar concerns raised after youth protests in Kenya, remarking, “Politicians have seen what happened in Kenya, and they know how powerful the youth can be.”
The CDD officer outlined ongoing efforts by his organization to secure the release of the detained protesters.
“We are currently engaging other stakeholders to see how they can support the arrested and seek the release of them,” he revealed, adding that his team has made visitations to the detained individuals and remains in constant communication with relevant parties.
