Ghana’s Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has defended the government’s move to prosecute members of the Democracy Hub, following incidents during their protests against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. Mr. Dame argued that their actions exceeded the boundaries of free expression and posed a significant threat to public safety.
Speaking at the Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) on Wednesday, Mr. Dame cited examples from the UK and US, where protestors who engaged in unlawful activities faced legal consequences. He urged Ghana to adopt similar measures to maintain peace and security, especially ahead of the 2024 elections.
“Freedom is not free. It is accompanied by serious responsibilities,” he emphasized, acknowledging the right to freedom of expression but stressing that it must be exercised within the confines of the law.
The Attorney General highlighted that the recent Democracy Hub protests, which resulted in clashes with the police, endangered the nation’s peace and security. He referred to cases in the UK, where climate activists who blocked roads were sentenced to up to five years in prison, and instances in the US where anti-abortion activists were prosecuted for violating public order.
Mr. Dame urged the Judiciary to support law enforcement in handling acts of violence and lawlessness, particularly with the upcoming general elections. He called on the Police Service to expedite investigations into the protests and advised prosecutors to review bail applications for those with insufficient evidence against them.
“The peace and territorial integrity of our nation, just months before Election 2024, are far more important than the pursuit of any political goals,” he stated.