Democracy Hub demo: 42 protesters arrested
Police arrested 42 protesters from the Democracy Hub group at the 37 Roundabout on the second day of their three-day protest against the ongoing economic crisis. The protest unexpectedly shifted to focus on anti-galamsey (illegal mining). Police had warned protesters not to gather at the same location as the previous day. The exact charges they may face have not been officially disclosed, but 42 protesters are believed to have been taken into custody. The arrests have sparked discussions on social media regarding the right to peaceful assembly. Police confiscated mobile phones from the arrested protesters. Unlike the previous day, traffic flow at the 37 Roundabout was unaffected by the demonstration on September 21.
Meanwhile, during the ‘Fix The Country’ protests organized by Democracy Hub today, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Constitutional Rights and Policy Advisor, was caught on video turning off a police van’s engine, taking the key, and running away with it. This incident took place during a scuffle between protesters and the Ghana Police Service on September 22, the second day of the protest against economic mismanagement and other national issues. Barker-Vormawor was seen trying to remove a police barricade as well.
Barker-Vormawor admitted to taking the keys to immobilize the vehicle in a Facebook post, stating his resistance to the police’s seizure of the water-carrying van. The police have confirmed arrests of some of the demonstrators for acts of lawlessness like blocking the road and obstructing traffic. They are on a manhunt for Barker-Vormawor and others involved in the incident. The police assured the public that all perpetrators will face justice.
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