The Ghana Police Service has announced the arrest of a total of 54 individuals, comprising 49 males and 5 females in connection with the Democracy Hub Demonstration held last weekend.
The Director-General of Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, Faustina Agyeiwaa Kodua, confirmed that all detainees have been brought before the court as investigations continue.
She emphasized the commitment of the police to ensure that justice is served, stating, “We will move heaven to earth to make sure justice is fairly served.”
This statement came during a briefing held on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
The police revealed that a 12-year-old child and a 50-year-old woman, initially misreported as 68 years old, were involved in the arrests.
To prevent separation from her guardian, Grace Asantewaa, the child was allowed to accompany her to the police station.
Police provided food for the child, and Asantewaa was granted bail due to the circumstances surrounding her case. However, she faces charges of exposing a child to danger, as defined under section 71 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The situation surrounding the arrests has sparked controversy, particularly regarding claims about a pregnant protester, Vera Louise.
Noah Adamptey, one of the lawyers representing the detained individuals, speaking ABC IN THE MORNING on Friday criticized the Attorney General and the police for their handling of misinformation regarding Louise’s condition.
He expressed frustration over the limited access defense counsel had to their clients, asserting that lawyers were given insufficient time to speak with them, which hindered their ability to confirm crucial information.
“Lawyers had less than three minutes to speak to our clients. We had no opportunity to inquire about such information,” he said.
This briefing followed last weekend’s protests against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, which escalated into violence as demonstrators clashed with police forces.
The Ghana Police Service accused the protesters of obstructing traffic and dismantling police barriers during the demonstration at the 37 Roundabout in Accra, heightening tensions between law enforcement and civil society.
