Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, has announced that the government has withdrawn a legal application seeking to halt a planned protest against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The move follows an earlier action filed by the Greater Accra Regional Police Command at the Accra High Court, seeking an injunction to stop the demonstration organised by the Generational Rights Protection Society (GRPS).
The GRPS, led by media personalities Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah and Kwame Appiah Kubi, is mobilising the protest to demand stronger action against illegal mining operations across the country.
In their affidavit, the police argued that the organisers failed to respond to official communications and had not secured permission to use Liberation Square — a restricted area under the control of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Additionally, they cited national security concerns, pointing to intelligence reports warning of possible infiltration by “undesirable elements,” due to the lack of participant data.
However, in a Facebook post on Friday, Justice Srem-Sai disclosed that the Attorney-General’s Department had directed the withdrawal of the injunction following consultations with national security and intelligence agencies.
“After two meetings with the security and intelligence agencies yesterday, the Attorney-General directed that the application for injunction to restrain the anti-galamsey demonstrators be withdrawn.
“The injunction application was duly withdrawn this morning. The demonstration will be allowed to go on EXACTLY as the demonstrators have proposed.
“The right to demonstrate is protected by the Constitution. President John Mahama understands the true meaning of this right.
“His Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, will not violate or allow anyone to violate the citizen’s right to demonstrate. Da yie,” the Facebook post stated.
Following the withdrawal, the planned protest — scheduled for April 28–29, 2025 — is expected to commence at Obra Spot (Kwame Nkrumah Circle), continue along the Ring Road, and end at Liberation Square, opposite Jubilee House. The event will run from 4 PM until midnight.