President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has made it clear that he has no issue with protests, addressing the recent #StopGalamsey demonstrations in Ghana. He stated that citizens have the right to express their grievances without interference, despite claims to the contrary.
Speaking in an interview with France 24 TV, President Akufo-Addo clarified that the arrests made by the Ghana Police Service were due to the conduct of certain individuals, not because of the protests themselves. He emphasized that the police and judiciary are independent institutions managing these situations without political influence.
“I am not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts are independent, and they deal with misconduct as they see fit. It has nothing to do with politics or the executive,” Akufo-Addo said. “I have no problem with protests. How could I, when my own political career was shaped by protests? People are free to air their views on any issue.”
The #StopGalamsey protests, which took place from October 3 to 5, 2024, saw Ghanaians raising concerns about the impact of illegal mining activities on water bodies and demanding government intervention. While some protesters were arrested, Akufo-Addo reiterated that it was due to their behavior during the protests, not an effort to suppress dissent.
The president’s comments come amid growing calls from religious leaders, political figures, and labor unions for the government to take decisive action against illegal mining. Organised Labour has even threatened to go on strike if the government does not respond to the demands to end the galamsey menace by October 10, 2024.
