By: Emmanuel Amoah
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has emphasized that the recent arrests of protesters in Ghana were not orchestrated by the Executive branch, but rather stemmed from breaches of the rule of law. He clarified that these actions should not be mistaken for efforts to stifle dissent.
Speaking in an interview with France 24, the President underscored that individuals who violated the law were brought before the courts, which acted independently in handling their cases. “People misconduct themselves, and they are brought before court. It is for the court to deal with them. This has nothing to do with the Executive,” Akufo-Addo stated.
He further explained that the Executive does not have a hand in arresting or jailing citizens. According to him, the protesters’ actions resulted in clashes with the police, leading to legal consequences. “The courts in Ghana are independent institutions, and they have been all through this period of the Fourth Republic,” he reiterated.
The President’s comments follow the recent arrest of 42 demonstrators involved in the Democracy Hub protest, which escalated into violence as some participants clashed with law enforcement. The Ghana Police Service claimed the protesters had gathered unlawfully and engaged in acts of vandalism.
Of those arrested, 39 individuals have been remanded for two weeks, facing charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, and offensive conduct leading to a breach of the peace. Their bail requests were denied during their court appearance.
Despite the arrests, Akufo-Addo reaffirmed that Ghanaian laws do not suppress the right to protest or express opinions. He stressed that as someone whose political journey was shaped by protests, he could not oppose citizens exercising their right to demonstrate. “How can a President whose political career was aided by leading protests have problems with protests?” he questioned.
