Leading civil society organizations and human rights defenders have condemned the unlawful arrests and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Ghana Police Service during a protest against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
The protest, spearheaded by young activists and environmental advocates, called for an end to galamsey, which has been responsible for the widespread destruction of forests, water bodies, and the environment in Ghana.
In a press briefing held at the UDS Guest House in Accra, Hardi Yakubu, Movement Coordinator of Africans Rising, presented a joint statement on behalf of Africans Rising, the Economic Fighters League, Democracy Hub, A Rocha Ghana, and a legal defense team.
The groups expressed outrage over the violent response by the police during the three-day demonstration, which resulted in the arrest of more than 50 protesters. The demonstration, held in solidarity with the outgoing president’s call for citizens to take action, highlighted the urgent need to halt illegal mining and protect Ghana’s natural resources.
Yakubu outlined multiple violations of the protesters’ constitutional rights, including denial of access to legal counsel, detention beyond the 48-hour limit without charges, and the refusal to provide food, water, and medical assistance to those in custody. He also criticized the judiciary’s complicity in what he described as a “mistrial” of the activists, adding that the situation emboldens unprofessional conduct by law enforcement.
“The Ghana Police Service has not only violated the rights of these patriots but has failed to account for their whereabouts, subjecting families and friends to the trauma of searching for their loved ones,” Yakubu stated. He also cited an incident where a brother was denied access to deliver diabetes medication to his detained sister, calling it “one of the cruelest aspects” of the police’s actions.
The coalition of organizations called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees and demanded an investigation into the conduct of the police. They also urged civil society, human rights groups, and citizens across Ghana to join their call for justice.
“Galamsey must be stopped! Our very lives depend on it,” Yakubu declared, emphasizing the importance of unity in the fight against environmental destruction and state repression. He noted that similar struggles for justice are happening across Africa, from Nigeria to Zimbabwe, as citizens rise up to demand accountability from their governments.
The activists vowed to continue their fight until all detained patriots are freed and their rights are fully restored, insisting that the environmental and human rights crisis posed by galamsey is a matter of life and death for all Ghanaians.
