21 Democracy Hub Protesters Granted Bail
The High Courts in Accra has granted bail to 21 of the 53 demonstrators who were arrested by the police and remanded into police and prison custody by the Accra Circuit court.
The first batch of the protesters were granted bail to the tune of Ghc70,000.
They included Ama Governor, Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, Ziblim Yakubu, Oheneba Pempeh, Philip Owusu Kobina, Akisibik Desmond, Von Coffie and Sadik Yakubu.
The second batch to be granted on bail included 12 protesters. Their bail requirement includes an amount of Ghc20,000 and two sureties.
They are Felicity Nelson, Benjamin Akufu-Darko, Cedric Bansah, Michael Amofa, Emmanuel Ofei, Nii Ayi, Fred Boateng, Iddrisu Yusif, Wendell Yeboah, Samuel Samakor, Nana Amo Mensah Prempeh and Thomas Yeboah.
The accused persons are required to report to the police once a week after they meet the bail requirement.
Although relieved by the granting of bail, Democracy Hub remains dissatisfied, as the charges have not been dropped, despite their repeated demands.
“Although the bail application has been granted, state prosecutor opposed the application and the charges have not been dropped as requested,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, it has urged the public, who have the means, to step forward and act as sureties for those granted bail.
“We require people to act as sureties to ensure those granted bail are released.”
The accused persons joined the demonstration against illegal mining which started on September 21 and ended on September 23.
According to a statement by the police, the demonstrators unlawfully assembled at the 37 Intersection and attacked Police officers performing their lawful duties.
It said they entered a Police vehicle, removed the ignition key and threw it away, pushing down Police crash barriers, “obstructing traffic, causing unlawful damage, and disturbing the peace among others”.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini