The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has expressed deep concern over what she describes as the harsh treatment of peaceful protesters during the recent three-day demonstration by Democracy Hub.
According to her, the manhandling of protesters, arrest, starvation, and denial of access to family and legal counsel by the police, along with the subsequent remand of some protesters by the Accra Circuit is alarming.
In a statement on Thursday, September 26, Prof Opoku-Agyemang criticised the authorities’ brutal response, questioning the government's sincerity in its proclaimed fight against illegal mining and the destruction of water bodies and forest reserves.
She called for a shift in focus, urging the authorities to direct their efforts towards tackling illegal mining, which she noted is severely harming the country's water resources, health, cocoa farms, and food security.
"It is incongruous that those actively behind illegal mining are freely walking about and smiling all the way to the bank while protesters who are concerned about the harmful impact of illegal mining are rather being suppressed," part of the statement read.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged the government to desist from suppressing the right of Ghanaians to protest, especially as protests are fundamental to human rights.
"These feudal, authoritarian and early-century reactions by the government to a peaceful protest have no place in a 21" century democracy.
"The government must therefore immediately end the persecution of the protesters and unconditionally release those in custody," she said.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang added that the government should take a cue from the NDC's pledge to properly train illegal miners and give them expert mining advisory services.
Read the full statement below.
Latest Stories
-
Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws
11 mins -
Providing quality seeds to farmers is first step towards achieving food security in Ghana
22 mins -
Give direct access to Global Health Fund – Civil Society calls allocations
3 hours -
Trudeau plays Santa with seasonal tax break
4 hours -
Prince Harry jokes in tattoo sketch for Invictus
4 hours -
Akufo-Addo commissions 200MW plant to boost economic growth
4 hours -
Smallholder farmers to make use of Ghana Commodity Exchange
4 hours -
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
4 hours -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
5 hours -
Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC
5 hours -
Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes
5 hours -
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are engaged
5 hours -
Expired rice saga: A ‘best before date’ can be extended – Food and Agriculture Engineer
5 hours -
Why I rejected Range Rover gift from a man – Tiwa Savage
5 hours -
KNUST Engineering College honours Telecel Ghana CEO at Alumni Excellence Awards
6 hours