Former President, John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress Presidential Candidate for the December elections, has condemned the remanding of 39 Democracy Hub for two weeks as “high-handed.”
According to the former president, the judicial decision to remand the anti galamsey demonstrators into prison and police custodies was draconian and must be reversed.
In a Facebook post yesterday, former President Mahama said the right to demonstrate was constitutionally guaranteed and that such judicial decisions won’t intimidate the Ghanaian youth into exercising their constitutional rights.
“The youth of Ghana have a right to engage in manifestations to protect their future, especially in respect of key issues like the destruction of the environment through illegal mining,” he said.
He said, “Draconian judicial decisions such as this won’t stop them from speaking out. The authorities must request the judge to review the remand decision and grant them bail immediately.”
The protestors were charged with conspiracy to commit crime and unlawful assembly.
Mr Mahama stated that there was the need to balance maintaining law and order with protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens as the decision was an abuse of their fundamental human rights.
“Remanding Democracy Hub demonstrators for two weeks is high-handed and an abuse of their rights,” he stated.
In his view, such high-handedness won’t cow the Ghanaian youth who are disenchanted with the poor leadership Government has demonstrated in the fight against the dreaded illegal mining menace into submission.
The demonstrators, who were arrested on Sunday, pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful assembly, causing public disorder, causing harm to a public officer, breach of public peace and causing unlawful harm.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
