John Agyekum Kufuor, a former President, has condemned Oliver Barker-Vormawor, for his actions during the Democracy Hub protest recently oganised against illegal mining.
He says such acts deserve to be punished, calling for justice to be delivered in the matter.
Kufuor wants people who want to channel their grievances through demonstrations to do so in accordance with the law.
At the three-day protest organised between September 21 and 23, 2024, some 53 persons were arrested for causing breaches during their procession.
Barker-Vormawor, a leading member of the group, removed the keys to a police vehicle and threw it away, an act many have condemned despite the cause of their protest which many believe was good.
The protestors said the government’s lazy attitude towards the illegal mining menace also known as ‘galamsey’, which is causing destruction to forest reserves and polluting water bodies was nauseating.
As part of their demands, they asked the government to declare a state of emergency and ban all forms of small-scale mining until an environmentally friendly means of mining has been laid down.
The persons who were arrested were detained, with some being granted bail on Monday and Tuesday, October 07 and 08.
Reacting to the development, the former President said as much as justice should be delivered for those arrested, it is imperative to find a lasting solution to the ongoing menace which is not a threat to only the environment but the lives of Ghanaians as a whole.
He condemned certain aspects of the protestors’ actions which were unlawful, specifically the removal of the keys of the police vehicle by Mr. Barker-Vormawor.
“If you attack a police officer or take away their car key, you must face the law or be punished. We can’t let them go scot-free,” he said.
“We must find a solution to this menace that affects not only the environment but also the livelihoods of many Ghanaians,” he said. “We need to work together to find a way to stop the destruction of our natural resources and ensure that our environment is protected for future generations,” he said on Accra-based Angel FM Wednesday, October 09, 2024.
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