Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame has defended the government’s decision to prosecute members of the Democracy Hub following unlawful incidents during their protest against illegal mining, also known as Galamsey.
According to him, the actions of the Democracy Hub protesters “went beyond the limits of free expression and posed a threat to public safety.”
Speaking at the Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) on Wednesday, Mr. Yeboah Dame cited international examples of how democracies handle unlawful protests, urging Ghana to follow suit.
“The legitimacy of the declared object of specific protests does not matter,” he emphasized, adding that the state must deplore and prosecute acts of protestors that threaten the running of essential services, infringe on the right to free movement of others, or attack the safety of security forces.”
He acknowledged the right to freedom of expression but stressed that this right must be exercised responsibly and within the confines of the law.
“As I always say, freedom is not free. It is accompanied by serious responsibilities, Referring to the recent Democracy Hub protests, which led to clashes with police, he argued that “such actions threatened the nation’s peace and territorial integrity.”
The Attorney General provided examples from the United Kingdom and the United States where protestors who crossed into unlawful activities were prosecuted, such as the jailing of five climate activists in the UK for blocking motorways and similar prosecutions of rioters and activists in both countries.
“Protests that disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens, attack the police, or threaten essential services cannot be justified under the banner of free expression,” he declared.
Mr. Dame called on the judiciary to support law enforcement by firmly addressing acts of violence and lawlessness, especially as the general elections approach.
“The peace and territorial integrity of our nation, almost two months before Election 2024, is far greater than the pursuit of any parochial political goals,” he stated.
He emphasized that over 140 galamsey cases, involving more than 850 accused individuals, remain pending in various courts, with some dating back to 2020.
He described this situation as unacceptable, considering the significant damage illegal mining activities have inflicted on the nation’s forests and water bodies, stating “We are in an urgent national crisis, and all citizens and institutions with any role to play must be called to action.”
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