President Nana Akufo-Addo has firmly denied allegations of partisan interference in the recent arrest of 53 anti-galamsey protesters.
In an interview with France 24 on October 4, 2024, Akufo-Addo stressed that the arrests were not an attempt to suppress dissent but were tied to the conduct of the individuals during the demonstration.
Responding to accusations of politically motivated arrests, the president reiterated his respect for peaceful protests, asserting that such actions are a legitimate form of democratic expression.
“I am not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts in Ghana are independent institutions, and they have been so through the Fourth Republic,” Akufo-Addo stated. He explained that the behaviour of the protesters led to their arrest and prosecution by the authorities, distancing the executive branch from the legal process.
The protest was organised to raise awareness about the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, known locally as galamsey. Ghana’s rivers and forests have been severely impacted by this illicit practice, which has become a major political issue. Akufo-Addo acknowledged the gravity of galamsey’s environmental consequences but insisted that demonstrations must remain lawful and peaceful.
He also questioned how a leader whose political career was rooted in protests could be against such forms of expression. “How can a president whose political career was aided by leading protests have problems with protests?” he asked. Akufo-Addo urged protesters to collaborate with authorities in finding long-term solutions to the galamsey crisis.
The president also touched on regional security issues during the interview, expressing disappointment over the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following recent coups in these countries.
The arrest of the anti-galamsey protesters has sparked debates in Ghana about civil liberties, environmental protection, and the role of the judiciary in political matters, with the government standing by its position on the need for peaceful and responsible activism.