In a recent ruling by the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Comfort Tasiame, lawyer and activist Ama Governor, along with eight others, were granted bail following their arrest during an anti-galamsey protest. The court set the bail at GH¢70,000 with two sureties for each individual. The group, which includes Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, Ziblim Yakubu, Oheneba Prempeh, Philip Owusu Kwabena, Akisibik Desmond, Von Coffie, and Sadik Yakubu, has been ordered to report to the police once a week.
The bail decision followed a thorough hearing, which considered both the legal and societal implications of the protestors’ actions against illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey. The protest aimed to raise awareness about the damaging effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s environment, particularly its farmlands, water bodies, and forests.
The defence team emphasized that the protest was peaceful and intended to advocate for environmental protection, not to incite violence. They underlined the importance of free speech and the right to peaceful assembly as essential elements of democratic society and social justice.
Justice Tasiame acknowledged the significance of the environmental cause while stressing the importance of upholding law and order during public demonstrations. The prosecution, led by the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, faced criticism for detaining the protesters beyond the 48-hour limit before their court appearance, a move legal experts deemed unnecessarily harsh, given the critical nature of the environmental issue at hand.
The arrest of these protesters highlights the growing frustration among activists over the unchecked destruction caused by galamsey. With Ghana’s water bodies and forests increasingly under threat, the protest was part of a larger movement demanding urgent government intervention to combat illegal mining.