Ghana’s Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has criticized CNN International correspondent Larry Madowo over his coverage of the recent anti-galamsey protests in Accra, which led to the arrest of 39 individuals.
The protests, organized by the Democracy Hub, took place from September 21 to September 23, 2024.
Madowo, in a post on X, highlighted that Ghanaian authorities were detaining peaceful protesters who opposed illegal mining activities, also known as galamsey.
He wrote, “I’ll be watching Ghana’s president speak in New York this morning as police in Accra continue to detain peaceful protesters against illegal mining. People are rallying under #FreeTheCitizens after Ghanaian police violently broke up 3 days of #StopGalamseyNow protests.”
However, Miadam Abubakar took issue with his depiction of the events. In a post on her own X account on September 26, 2024, she expressed her disappointment, accusing Madowo of presenting an incomplete and biased report. She argued that his coverage lacked balance and failed to provide a full picture of the situation.
Abubakar emphasized that while Ghana supports the right to peaceful protest, Madowo’s report ignored key aspects, such as the vandalism and attacks on police during the demonstrations. She called for responsible journalism that represents multiple viewpoints, particularly when covering sensitive topics like protests.
“Dear @LarryMadowo, Please do well to check and report on both sides of a story when making publications that impact a country’s image. Ghana has always supported citizens’ right to demonstrate peacefully. However, acts of vandalism, attacks on police, and disruptions to public order will always be contained by the Police in any jurisdiction,” Abubakar stated.
The Democracy Hub protest, aimed at ending illegal mining in Ghana, concluded over the weekend. Eleven demonstrators appeared before the Accra Circuit Court and were remanded in custody. The convenor of the group, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, was also remanded for two weeks, bringing the total number of detained protesters to 51.