It’s a ‘travesty’ of justice – Awula Serwah on arrest and detention of Democracy Hub protesters

Coordinator of Eco-Conscious, Awula Serwah has described the arrest and remand of Democracy Hub protesters as an injustice.

Speaking as a panel on an Anti-Galamsey forum on the theme; Galamsey Fight; Beyond The Talk, What Next?’ organized by Media General, she bemoaned the current state of Ghana’s Judicial system stressing that the protesters were only fighting for the right course.

Awula Serwah wondered why protesters who were demanding for preservation of the country’s forest reserve would be arrested whiles persons implicit in galamsey have been allowed to walk scot-free.

“We think it’s a travesty that demonstrators who are protesting against this canker (galamsey), they have rather been incarcerated and those who are rather destroying Ghana with impunity are walking free.

“As a lawyer, I do think it is bringing our justice system into disrepute because people are asking me why were they refused bail. Were they plotting a coup? were they murderers? Why should they be denied bail? she said on Wednesday, September 25.

Background

Twenty-eight protesters who participated in the 3-day Democracy Hub demonstrations have been remanded into police custody after an Accra Circuit Court denied their bail application on Tuesday, September 24.

The protesters were arrested near the 37 intersection area during the demonstration which the police has described as “illegal” and “unlawful”.

The 3-day protest was against illegal meaning also known as galamsey. Protesters held placards with inscriptions like ‘Stop Galamsey’ to register their displeasure with the menace.

Five counts of charges were proffered against them after their arrests on Saturday, September 21. The charges are;
– Conspiracy to commit crime – unlawful assembly
– Unlawful assembly
– Destruction of property
– Offensive conduct
– Assault on public officer

Eleven (11) others whose cases were heard in another circuit court were also denied bail but were remanded into prison custody after their lawyer prayed for an adjournment to study their charges.

The court also issued a bench warrant for one of the protesters who was previously released on police inquiry bail but failed to appear in court, despite being aware of the proceedings, according to the prosecution.

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