Convener of the Democracy Hub, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has denied all charges against him after being arrested during a three-day protest over the government’s handling of illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey.”
Alongside 45 other protesters, Barker-Vormawor was accused of disturbing the public peace. He was unable to attend court on Wednesday, September 25, due to illness but appeared the following day, Thursday, September 26, to enter his not-guilty plea.
The charges he faces include conspiracy to commit unlawful assembly, unlawful damage, offensive conduct likely to breach the peace, assault on a public officer, defacement of public property, and theft.
Meanwhile, the remaining protesters have been placed in police and prison custody for 14 days as the court deliberates on their bail requests. The defense team has criticized the police for allegedly mistreating those detained, claiming that the protesters have been denied access to legal counsel.