Alan Kyerematen, Presidential candidate of the Afrafranto Alliance has condenned the ongoing detention of young protesters who participated in the Democracy Hub demonstrations.
The protests, which aimed to spotlight the government’s inability to tackle illegal mining (Galamsey), led to the arrest of some young Ghanaians. Mr. Kyerematen condemned the authorities for what he called ‘unlawful and unconstitutional’ treatment of the protesters.
He said the youth, who were exercising their constitutional rights to protest, had been unfairly charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and unlawful assembly.
He expressed his dismay at the Ghana Police Service’s handling of the situation, questioning how the police could supervise a three-day demonstration only to turn around and bring charges of unlawful assembly. ‘It is beyond my wildest imagination how this happened,’ Kyerematen stated
The Afrafranto leader also criticized the police for their post-arrest treatment of the detained protesters, who had reportedly been denied access to legal counsel, medical care, food, and water.
He lamented the conduct of the police in managing the detained protesters, calling it an abuse of power that undermined the constitutional rights of all Ghanaians.
He questioned the refusal of judges to grant bail to the detained youth, stating that the charges against them were misdemeanors and do not warrant prolonged detention. He described the judiciary’s decision as an ‘abuse of judicial discretion,’ calling for a swift review of the bail refusal to prevent further injustice.
Mr Alan Kyerematen warned that the growing culture of fear and sycophancy, particularly in the lead-up to the December elections, was an ominous sign for Ghana’s democracy.
‘Let it not be said that our generation stood by unconcerned as the dark clouds of chaos and anarchy began to gather in our beloved country,’ he cautioned.
He described the protest as a symptom of deeper systemic failures, particularly the government’s inability to provide jobs and hope for the future.
As the youth languish in custody, Kyerematen emphasized that the responsibility to correct this injustice was with the Attorney General and appealed to Godfred Dame, to file an application for Nolle Prosequi to discontinue the case, stressing that the future of Ghana’s democracy hinged on fair treatment of its young people.
Mr Kyerematen expressed solidarity, lauding them as the ‘heroes of our time.’
He reassured them that their sacrifices would not be in vain, pledging to fight alongside them to restore their rights and end the Galamsey menace.
‘Do not be dismayed; there is light at the end of the tunnel,’ he encouraged them.
The Afrafranto Alliance leader concluded his speech with a firm commitment to seeing justice done.
Together, we will win, and Ghana will rise again,’ he declared, his words resonating with the hope of a brighter future for the youth of Ghana.
Source: Ghana News Agency