Ghanaian police have arrested 42 demonstrators in Accra following clashes during protests against economic hardship and the government’s handling of illegal mining, locally known as “galamsey.”
The protests, organized by the Democracy Hub group, began on Friday and were scheduled to continue through Monday. Most of the demonstrators were young people, marching through the city, chanting patriotic songs, and carrying placards expressing their frustration over environmental degradation caused by illegal mining and the government’s perceived mismanagement of the economy.
Police confirmed the arrest of 42 individuals on Sunday, stating that the protesters had gathered unlawfully and attacked officers performing their duties.
“These individuals unlawfully assembled and attacked police officers who were lawfully carrying out their duties,” said police spokesperson Grace Ansah-Akrofi, in a statement .
“They will face charges in court for obstructing traffic, damaging property, and causing public disturbances,” she added.
The police also reported that some protesters engaged in acts of vandalism, including removing the ignition key from a police vehicle, pushing down crash barriers, and disturbing public peace. A manhunt has been launched for other protest leaders, including prominent lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who is accused of evading arrest.
“We are working to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice,” Ansah-Akrofi said.
However, Barker-Vormawor refuted the police’s claims, calling them “baseless and misleading.” He stated on X that he had been in regular contact with senior police officials regarding his whereabouts.
In response, Democracy Hub condemned the police’s actions, describing them as an unjustified attack on peaceful demonstrators.
“We call on the authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with protest leaders to safeguard the rights and safety of all participants,” the group said in a statement.
The protests take place as Ghana prepares for its presidential election in December, with the economy a key focus of the campaign. The race is set to be between ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and former president John Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Ghana’s economy is gradually recovering from a severe financial crisis in 2022, which led the country to default on its external debt. Inflation, which peaked at 54 percent in December 2022, has since decreased to 20.4 percent as of last month.
With President Nana Akufo-Addo stepping down after completing two terms, Bawumia is leading the ruling party’s effort to retain power. Ghana, a major producer of oil, gold, and cocoa, is stabilizing its economy with a $3-billion relief package from the International Monetary Fund.