Some of the accused persons leaving the court after proceedings
Thirty-nine persons arrested in connection with ‘unlawful’ demonstration against illegal mining at 37 Military Hospital in Accra, which turned violent, have been remanded into police and prison custody for two weeks.
The accused persons, who were part of the demonstration organised by a group calling itself ‘Democracy Hub,’ known to be affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime namely unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace, assault on public officer and defacement of public property.
The demonstration, which began on September 21, 2024, became chaotic on September 22 with some of the protesters caught on video defacing billboards, political party paraphernalia, while others were caught in an altercation with police officers sent to the scene to maintain law and order.
One of the conveners of the demonstration, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, was caught on video removing the key from a police vehicle and throwing it away during the chaotic moment. Sources said he would be put before a court today.
An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Evelyn Asamoah remanded a total of nine accused persons into police custody to reappear on October 8, 2024, while another court presided over by Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah also remanded another group of 30; 19 into police custody and another 11 into prison custody.
Among the accused persons who were arrested on September 22, 2024 is private legal practitioner, Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio, popularly called Ama Governor, a pregnant woman and a national service person attached to Parliament.
Twenty-eight of the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges against them while a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Grace Asantewaa, who was earlier released by the police but failed to show up in court.
The pleas of Dorcas Sharifa Sulemana, Emmanuel Attah Alhassan Hudu, Raymsa Godson Jones, Isaac Agyapong, Shadrack Amoah, Otieku Alex, Raymond Sefa Boakye, Kallian Kofi Komashie, Daniel Adjei and Siah Kwame Daniel were not taken as their lawyer told the court they were not served with the charge sheet, hence they could not have conference with them.
They were, however, remanded into prison custody, and the court said their pleas would be taken when they reappear on October 8, 2024.
Court documents state that ‘Democracy Hub’ on July 9, 2024, had informed the police about an intended demonstration at the Revolutionary Square, opposite the Jubilee House in Accra.
The police, however, rejected the proposed location for the demonstration because the chosen venue was considered a security zone and likely to affect public order and lead to violence or endanger public defence.
The police later secured an injunction from a court which prohibited the group from embarking on the intended demonstration at the Revolutionary Square.
“The Police thus communicated to the convener of the group and suggested seven different locations to be used for the protest in the interest of public order. The group however rejected the proposed venues and elected to protest at the 37 Roundabout, which was rejected by the Police,” a court document said.
It further avers that on September 21, 2024, the group embarked on their protest and gathered around the 37 Roundabout, insisting to proceed to the Revolutionary Square.
It said the police mounted barricades around the 37 Roundabout in a bid to maintain security and order, restraining the demonstrators from proceeding to the Revolutionary Square.
“The demonstration suddenly turned chaotic as the accused persons resorted to blocking the major roads with stones and vehicles, delaying access at the roundabout. This caused serious traffic within the Liberation Road, the El Wak Stadium, the Kawukudi Road and its environs,” the document added.
The prosecution’s brief facts indicate that this act by the demonstrators caused significant traffic, delay, inconvenience and annoyance for commuters.
“The accused persons also pulled down billboards and burnt electoral posters and flags of political parties. Again, the suspects forcefully pushed down the police barricade that was used to secure the area, obstructing the effort of the police to maintain peace and security,” the document added.
Some of the accused persons are Kingsley Asiedu, Seth Coffie, Vera Gloria Louis, Nii Quaye Hammond, Dela Quarshie, Manuel Barsar Biney, Dorsese Joseph, Agbevi Mathias and Ernest Acheampong.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak