Ten Democracy Hub protesters, including Ralph St. Williams, have been remanded into police custody for two weeks.
On Tuesday, police began arraigning more than 40 individuals arrested during the demonstration. The accused are being processed in batches across two circuit courts—Court 6 and Court 10.
All 10 individuals remanded so far appeared in Circuit Court 6, where they pleaded not guilty to charges including unlawful assembly, unlawful damage, assaulting a police officer, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Background
A three-day demonstration organized by Democracy Hub, titled “Stop the Galamsey and Re-Occupy Julorbi House,” was disrupted after protesters clashed with police at the 37 Military intersection.
The protest, initially aimed at voicing concerns over illegal mining activities, escalated when tensions arose between the demonstrators and the Ghana Police Service. According to Republic Press journalist Sheila Mensa, the situation remained calm until the Democracy Hub protesters returned from a meeting at Max Mart. Upon arriving at the 37 roundabout, they attempted to break through police barricades, leading to confrontations with the officers.
While capturing the incident on video, Mensa’s phone was smashed by a protester, who warned her to stop filming.
An eyewitness at the scene recounted that Mawuse Oliver Barker-Vormawor, leader of the Democracy Hub, was seen pushing down barricades and removing the key from a police tow truck that was preparing to tow the protesters’ vehicle, which had been parked in the middle of the road.
The police called for reinforcements to restore order, resulting in the arrest of several protesters.
According to the police report, over 40 demonstrators were detained for engaging in unlawful acts. Barker-Vormawor was among those arrested for his involvement in various illegal activities during the protests held on Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, 2024, at the 37 Military intersection in Accra.
The police declined to reveal the whereabouts of the arrested protesters, stating that they would be arraigned in court the following day.