Social media has been in a frenzy following the arrests of individuals believed to have participated in a three-day protest against illegal mining and its severe impact on Ghana.
Recent reports indicate that a total of thirty-nine (39) individuals associated with the Democracy Hub protests have been arrested, sparking the #FreetheCitizen campaign, which calls for their release.
While some express disappointment with law enforcement for allegedly making wrongful arrests, others have questioned the silence of high-profile personalities on the issue.
A netizen, in a recent post, criticized Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie for his silence, as he is usually vocal about such matters, even those outside Ghana, such as the 2020 protests against Nigerian police brutality.
The netizen responding to Sarkodie’s post in 2020 remarked, “He influenced millions of Ghanaians to vote for criminals who arrested pregnant women, asthmatic patients, and children under 13 years old, preventing them from accessing food. In 2020, even Nigerians were protesting, and he supported them. But today, he can’t say a single word. Have you retired from music? Did you sign a contract to endorse criminal acts in the country to get paid?”.
While some netizens believe the rapper is under no obligation to add his voice to the ongoing campaign, others are also disappointed in him for being quiet and also believe his affiliation with the NPP is preventing him from joining in the campaign.
