Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has stated that there is a need to balance the maintenance of law and order with a deeper sense of responsibility in protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens.
John Mahama’s statement is in sequel to the treatment meted out to the Democracy Hub demonstrators who took to some streets in Accra to protest against the menace of galamsey on the environment and the living conditions of residents of the galamsey-prone areas.
Posting on his official Facebook page on Thursday, September 26, John Mahama bemoaned how the Ghana Police Service and the Judicial Service treated the demonstrators.
The demonstrators who belong to the Democracy Hub were arrested and detained by the police for alleged wrongdoings during the process of the demonstration.
The police arrested 50 demonstrators in total and charged them with conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, and assault on a public officer.
“We must balance our need to maintain law and order with protecting the rights and freedoms of our citizens. Remanding Democracy Hub demonstrators for 2 weeks is high-handed and an abuse of their rights.”
“The youth of Ghana have a right to engage in manifestations to protect their future, especially in respect of key issues like the destruction of the environment through illegal mining.
"Draconian judicial decisions such as this won’t stop them from speaking out. The authorities must request the judge to review the remand decision and grant them bail immediately,” Mr. Mahama stated.
Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com
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