The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Opoku Agyemang has called on the government to drop charges against Democracy Hub protesters who were arrested and detained.
She is also demanding their immediate release, citing the need to protect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and free speech.
Professor Naana Opoku Agyemang who was at Bogoso as part of her three-day campaign tour of the Western region expressed deep concern at the brutalities meted out to the demonstrators by officers of the Ghana Police Service.
Speaking through her campaign spokesperson, James Agyenim Boateng, the NDC Vice Presidential candidate added.. “I am extremely concerned and find it reprehensible how the police have brutalized the protestors,”
She continued ………. “It is unacceptable that the government chooses to arrest individuals demonstrating against the illegal destruction of our forest reserves, while those allegedly engaged in galamsey activities remain free,”
She described the arrests of the demonstrators as a blatant example of undemocratic behavior by the ruling administration.
The protestors were demonstrating against illegal mining activities, known as galamsey, which have led to severe environmental degradation and loss of Ghana’s forest resources.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang describes their protest as legitimate concerns that needs an urgent action rather than suppression.
“There must be an immediate end to the prosecution of these individuals, and we demand their release.
This behaviour by the government is reminiscent of practices from the fourteenth century, where dissent was met with brutality and suppression,” she concluded
