Fifty-one activists from the Democracy Hub remain in police custody despite being granted bail by the Accra High Court.
This was revealed in a press release issued by the group on October 8, 2024.
The activists were arrested during the #StopGalamseyNow and #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse protests in late September. Their continued detention has sparked public outrage, with Democracy Hub accusing authorities of deliberately delaying their release.
According to the group, 52 activists were granted bail between October 7 and 8, but delays in processing the bail orders have prevented their release. “Despite the court granting bail in the morning, the order wasn’t even sent to the police until 2 PM the following day,” the organizers claimed, accusing the state of foot-dragging.
They further raised concerns about the slow verification of sureties, a necessary step before the activists can be released. “No action has been taken on verifying the sureties, which prolongs the detention of these brave citizens,” the statement added.
The situation has been worsened by the absence of key personnel responsible for processing the bail. “Officers closed their offices at 4 PM, and those responsible for signing the bail bonds won’t be working tomorrow, meaning our comrades may not be free until next week,” the group lamented.
In addition to administrative delays, Democracy Hub condemned intrusive searches conducted at the homes of individuals standing as sureties. “These unwarranted and intimidating searches are aimed at harassing and discouraging those supporting our cause,” the group said.
As of 6 pm on October 8, all 51 activists remained in custody. The Democracy Hub has called for immediate action to address what it describes as “systemic injustice” and urged authorities to respect the activists’ legal rights.
“We are witnessing an alarming trend of government manipulation aimed at frustrating citizens exercising their civic rights,” the group stated.
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah assured the public that the government would not tolerate any attempts by investigators to delay the bail process. He emphasized the need for proper verification of sureties but stressed that intentional delays would not be accepted.
The Deputy Attorney General also defended the government’s opposition to bail for Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the convenor of the anti-galamsey protest. Citing Section 96 of the Criminal Procedure Act, he explained that the court could reconsider bail if an accused person commits another offense while on bail for a previous charge. Barker-Vormawor has been denied bail three times since his arrest during the protests.
This ongoing legal battle underscores the growing tensions between protesters and state authorities as the fight against illegal mining and for civil liberties intensifies.
