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Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame has justified the government’s choice to bring charges against Democracy Hub participants in response to some illegal events that were captured on camera during their demonstration against galamsey, or illegal mining.
He said that their acts violated people’s right to free speech and endangered everyone’s safety.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) Annual Conference, Mr. Dame urged Ghana to follow the lead of other democracies in maintaining national security and peace, particularly in light of the 2024 elections, by citing instances from other countries of how democracies handle protestors who cross the line into illegal behavior.
Mr. Dame noted that whilst accepting the right to freedom of expression, this right must be used sensibly and within the bounds of the law.
“As I always say, freedom is not free. It is accompanied by serious responsibilities,” he said.
Mr. Dame contended that acts like these endangered the country’s peace and territorial integrity, citing the recent demonstrations staged by the Democracy Hub that resulted in altercations with law enforcement.
The Attorney General referenced cases from the US and the UK in which demonstrators who participated in illegal activities like obstructing necessary services or instigating violence—were subject to the full weight of the law.
He cited the five climate activists who in the UK caused traffic jams on motorways and received sentences of up to five years in prison.
He also brought up the conviction of anti-abortion campaigners in the US and far-right rioters in the UK who broke the law while posing as peaceful protestors.
“The lesson to be drawn from the treatment of unlawful or violent expression of free speech in the United States and the United Kingdom is that the legitimacy of the declared object of specific protests does not matter,” Mr Dame said.
“Whilst acknowledging the legitimacy of concerns which motivate some protests, the State must deplore and, in fact, prosecute acts of protestors which threaten the running of essential services, infringe on the right to free movement of others, or attack the safety of security forces.”
The Attorney General emphasized that, especially in light of the impending general elections, such acts are totally inappropriate in Ghana’s democracy.
He urged the judiciary to stand with law enforcement officials and deal toughly with violent and lawless conduct, particularly in the run-up to elections.
Mr Dame said “Protests that disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens, attack the police, or threaten essential services cannot be justified under the banner of free expression”.
“The peace and territorial integrity of our nation at this time, almost two months before Election 2024, is far greater than the pursuit of any parochial political goals.”
Mr. Dame addressed concerns over the prosecution of Democracy Hub members by revealing that he had given the Police Service instructions to speed investigations and counseled prosecutors to take into account appropriate bail requests for demonstrators who are determined to be the subject of insufficient evidence.
“I urge the Police Service to swiftly conclude investigations by the next adjourned dates of the cases involving the prosecution of excesses from recent protests in Accra,” Godfred Dame said.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
