Dr. Adam Bonaa, a security analyst, has commended the Ghana Police Service for the handling of the Democracy Hub anti-galamsey protestors organised between September 21 and 23, 2024.
Juxtaposing the fallout from the protest with previous situations, Dr. Bonaa says the arrests effected by the police were right since the demonstrators took the laws into their hands.
Admitting that the fight against galamsey was a call to duty, he said the police were mandated to maintain law and order at the time the protestors went haywire.
Commenting over the development whilst contributing on TV3’s KeyPoints Saturday, September 28, 2024, Dr. Bonaa said the peacekeeping officers have improved with how they handle demonstrators compared to previous years.
“Over the years there have been significant improvements, it is important to acknowledge the improvement while talking about the duty not to be excessive. The police had a duty on the day to ensure law and order because we saw some of them [protesters] literally take the law into their own hands.
“We are all against galamsey but if you are demonstrating you don’t take the law into your own hands. NDC organised a demonstration recently and about one million people hit the streets nationwide, apart from the isolated case in Kumasi, we did not hear any violence,” he explained.
His comments come on the back of the backlash the police has received for the treatment meted out to demonstrators at the Democracy Hub protest where 53 persons were arrested and detained.
Leading members of the protest, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Felicity Nelson and 11 others, were remanded by an Accra Circuit court into Police custody for two weeks.
Lawyers of the protesters had applied for a bail after they pleaded not guilty. Aside Oliver Barker Vormawor who was charged with 8 counts of offenses including, offensive conduct to the breach of peace and stealing, the remaining 12 were charged with 6 offenses.
The Judge handing the matter, Kwabena Obiri Yeboah ordered the Police to cater for the feeding of the protesters after reports that they had been starved for about 3 days.
After missing his first arraignment on day 1 due to health reasons, Oliver Barker-Vormawor was escorted to the circuit court limping and frail.
Fanny Otoo was however unable to make it to the cour Oliver’s lawyer, Dr Justice Srem Sai argued in court that the Police had neglected his client and denied him prompt medical care until he collapsed while in custody.
Meanwhile, the Police have denied reports of using force against anyone during the Democracy Hub demonstration last weekend despite provocations.
Following the violence that characterized the protest, the Police said that 54 persons were arrested and all of them have been put before the court in line with the due process of the law.
Police cannot investigate itself on its excesses at Democracy Hub demo – ACP Agordzo
