President Nana Akufo-Addo has clarified his stance regarding the recent arrests of protesters, emphasizing the independence of Ghana's judiciary.
In an interview with France 24, he asserted that the executive branch of the government does not have any interest in detaining protesters or implementing measures to silence Ghanaians from expressing their opinions on various issues. He reiterated the principle of separation of powers, highlighting that the judiciary functions independently from executive influence.
I am not accountable for imprisoning individuals in Ghana. The courts are autonomous institutions, and they have remained so throughout the period of the Fourth Republic.
he stated.
Akufo-Addo explained that legal actions against individuals result from their behavior and their interactions with law enforcement, rather than their participation in protests or public demonstrations.
When people misbehave, they face legal consequences, and it is up to the courts to address these matters. This is not related to the executive. Their actions lead to issues with the police and the courts, not the protests themselves.
he emphasized.
Having been shaped by his own experiences in protests, Akufo-Addo firmly rejected any notion that he opposes public demonstrations. “How can a president, whose political career has been bolstered by leading protests, have issues with them? I do not oppose protests,” he remarked.
He underscored that Ghanaians are free to express their opinions and that there are no efforts to stifle public discourse in the country. “Nothing in Ghana hinders people from voicing their views on any matter,” Akufo-Addo concluded. These statements come amid heightened tensions regarding the right to protest, with some opposition figures accusing the government of using heavy-handed tactics.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the leader of the Democracy Hub, has been arrested by the Ghana Police Service and is currently in detention in connection with recent protests organized by the group in Accra.
The police have also arrested 42 others, with 12 remaining in custody alongside Barker-Vormawor for alleged involvement in unlawful activities, including inciting public disorder and leading the group’s blockade of major roads in the capital.
The protests aimed to draw attention to the severe effects of illegal mining and the urgent need for government action.
Credit:Pulse.
