William Yirenkyi, founder and leader for Alliance for Restoration of Civil Rights
The Alliance for Restoration of Civil Rights has condemned the arrest of Oliver Barker-Vormawor, leader of the #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse Stop Galamsey protest, alongside other demonstrators, accusing the Ghana Police Service of suppressing civil rights.
The protest, aimed at addressing the ongoing illegal mining crisis known as “galamsey,” was met with swift police action, which the alliance claims is a blatant abuse of power.
The arrest occurred amid peaceful protests against environmental degradation caused by galamsey operations, a serious issue that has wreaked havoc on Ghana’s landscape and water bodies.
Protesters are demanding that the government and law enforcement agencies take stronger action to combat illegal mining, which has devastated rural communities and posed a threat to public health.
According to the press release from the Alliance for Restoration of Civil Rights, Barker-Vormawor, an activist and critic of the government, was wrongfully detained by the police along with others.
The alliance accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, of selectively enforcing the law by targeting peaceful protesters while neglecting to arrest those involved in crimes such as corruption, violence, and other offenses that undermine Ghana’s security.
“This is not only a blatant abuse of power but also an attack on the democratic rights of Ghanaians to express dissent and demand accountability from those in power,” the statement read.
The alliance criticized the police’s failure to apprehend individuals involved in more serious crimes, calling the force’s actions hypocritical.
“We will not stand idly by as the rights of Ghanaian citizens are trampled upon by a police force that has abandoned its constitutional mandate. We will continue to advocate for justice, accountability, and the rule of law,” the statement continued.
AM/KA
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