Thirty-nine people who were part of the weekend’s street protest and were arrested by the police for unlawful acts have been remanded into custody by the Accra Circuit Court.
They were part of the three day street protest organised by the pressure group, Democracy Hub.
The protest, which voiced concerns over illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) and economic mismanagement, has led to charges of unlawful assembly and other offenses against the demonstrators.
Ten protesters were the first to be remanded after appearing in court, charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically unlawful assembly.
All ten pleaded not guilty and were remanded into police custody, with their case adjourned to October 8, 2024.
A second group of nine protesters, also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, and offensive conduct, pleaded not guilty.
They were also remanded and will reappear in court on October 8.
A third batch of 11 protesters were remanded into prison custody, with their case similarly adjourned to October 8.
Meanwhile, a separate group of nine individuals in a different courtroom were also remanded into police custody with their case set for October 11.
During the proceedings, a bench warrant was issued for one individual who failed to appear in court.
The arrests stem from a three-day protest held at the 37 Roundabout in Accra, where demonstrators clashed with the Ghana Police Service.
Notable figures, including lawyer and social media influencer Ama Governor, were among those arrested. As she was escorted to court, Ama Governor was heard shouting, “emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.”
Oliver Baker-Vormawor, convenor of the group, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, further intensifying attention on the ongoing protests and legal actions.
