Ama Governor and eight other participants in the recent anti-galamsey protests have been granted bail by an Accra High Court headed over by Justice Comfort Tasiame. The bail amount is GH¢70,000, and each defendant must provide two sureties.
Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, Ziblim Yakubu, Oheneba Prempeh, Philip Owusu Kwabena, Akisibik Desmond, Von Coffie, and Sadik Yakubu are the surviving persons.
This decision was made after a hearing when the demonstrators’ acts against illicit mining in Ghana were evaluated in terms of their legal and social ramifications.
The purpose of the bail requirements is to provide the accused with a brief reprieve from custody while guaranteeing their availability for further court appearances.
The people in question were taken into custody amid protests meant to draw attention to the detrimental impacts that galamsey—illegal mining—has on the environment and nearby communities.
Concerns about how uncontrolled mining activities are destroying forests, farmlands, and waterways have become more prevalent among activists.
The timing of the bail payments is also noteworthy since public opinion is shifting in favor of measures aimed at resolving the galamsey situation and safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources.
The defense team made a point of pointing out that the protests were nonviolent and centered upon supporting environmental conservation rather than encouraging violence during the court proceedings.
In the fight for social justice, they emphasized the value of free speech and the ability to congregate in peace.
The judge emphasized the necessity of upholding law and order during public rallies while yet acknowledging the importance of the protesters’ cause.
The Attorney General’s office and the Minister of Justice took up the case against the Democracy Hub Protesters when it was revealed that some people had been detained by police for longer than the allotted 48 hours before being brought before a judge.
Given that the demonstrators were protesting the urgent problem of illicit mining, which poses a major threat to water bodies and forest reserves, legal experts criticized the state’s incarceration of the protesters as being unduly harsh.
