39 Democracy Hub protesters remanded for 2 weeks
The Accra Circuit Court yesterday remanded 39 members of the Democracy Hub in prison and police cells.
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They have been slapped with multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful assembly, unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, assaulting a public officer and defacement of public property.
While 11 were remanded in prison custody, 28 were remanded in police custody.
They appeared before two separate Circuit Courts presided over by Evelyn Asamoah and Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah.
Nine of the accused persons appeared before Mr Asamoah, with the remaining 30 appearing before the court presided over by Mr Obiri-Yeboah.
Meanwhile, the Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for Ralph Saint Williams.
The cases have been adjourned to October 8, this year.
Prosecution’s facts
Per the facts of the case, on July 9 this year, the Ghana Police Service received a notice from a group known as "Democracy Hub" informing them of an intention to hold a protest, dubbed *#Wetaya #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse Demonstration."
By that letter, the group requested the police to provide them with security and protection for the intended demonstration.
According to the court documents, the group indicated that they intended to protest at the Revolution Square, opposite the Jubilee House.
After several meetings with the police, the prosecution said, the police advised the group to propose an alternative venue as the chosen venue was considered a security zone and likely to affect public order and lead to violence or endanger the public peace.
By an order of the High Court, dated September 18, 2024, secured through an ex-parte application, the group was prohibited from embarking on the intended demonstration at the Revolution Square.
The police thus communicated to the convener of the group and suggested seven different locations to be used for the protest in the interest of public order.
Democracy Hub, however, rejected the proposed venues and elected to protest at the 37 Military Hospital Intersection which was also rejected by the police.
The prosecution said the group embarked on its protest last Saturday and gathered around the 37 Military Hospital Intersection, insisting to proceed to the Revolution Square.
According to the docket, the police mounted barricades around the 37 Military Hospital Intersection in a bid to maintain security and order.
The barricades restrained the demonstrators from proceeding to the Revolution Square.
“The demonstration suddenly turned chaotic as the accused persons resorted to blocking the major roads with stones and vehicles, denying access at the intersection”.
“This caused serious traffic within the Liberation Road, the El Walk Stadium, the Kawukudi road and its environs. This caused significant traffic, delay, inconvenience and annoyance to commuters,” the prosecution told the court.
Prosecution added that the accused persons also pulled down billboards and burnt electoral posters and flags of political parties.
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Again, the suspects, according to the police, forcefully pushed down the police barricade that was used to secure the area, obstructing the effort of the police to maintain peace and security.