The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has strongly condemned the decision to remand 28 protesters of Democracy Hub, along with 11 others who were sent to prison, following a ruling by the Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday, September 24.
The demonstrators were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically unlawful assembly.
In a press release dated Thursday, September 26, CDD-Ghana labelled the court’s decision a grave abuse of power, criticising the police for failing to handle the situation with the necessary restraint and respect for the protesters’ rights.
The organization also denounced the excessive use of force by the police, stating that the protesters were merely exercising their civic rights.
Additionally, CDD-Ghana condemned the police’s decision to publish the full list of those arrested, arguing that this action further undermined the integrity of the protest.
The statement went on to accuse the Ghana Police Service of using unlawful tactics in the arrest and detention of 40 citizens, including ordinary bystanders.
These arrests occurred during a protest against key national issues such as state capture, rampant corruption, and illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), which continues to destroy the country’s water bodies.
“CDD-Ghana is particularly concerned about the Ghana Police Service’s repeated use of excessive and illegal control tactics, especially when dealing with young protesters. These actions undermine both the letter and the spirit of Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana,” the statement read.
