The 'Democracy Hub' street protest

PHOTOS BY AND VIDEO BY ERNEST KORDZI Sep - 21 - 2024 , 15:58

Some protesters of the group, 'Democracy Hub' on Saturday picketed the precincts of the 37 Military Hospital area as part of a street protest to drum home demands to end illegal mining in Ghana.

The 'Democracy Hub' street protest https://t.co/sbgq70nZvH pic.twitter.com/kdEQSwLfrQ
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) September 21, 2024

The police in a public notice stated it had noticed attempts by the protesters to frustrate and put impediments in the way of commuters and other road users and urged the protesters to desist from "such uncivil, unpatriotic" acts depicted in the images and videos and allow the general public to go about their businesses without any hindrance.

The 'Democracy Hub' street protest https://t.co/sbgq70nZvH pic.twitter.com/FlLKhFgJqB
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) September 21, 2024

When the protesters turned the main road into a football field

Earlier Daniel Kenu reported that the planned protest to drum home demands to end illegal mining in the country looked like it had been botched following a police "special operation."

The protest apparently coincided with what the police termed as special operation blocking major roads in the capital and restricting the protest only to the 37 Military Hospital bus terminal station.

Daniel Kenu reported that one of the leading members of the group, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, described the coincidence as strange having notified the police three months earlier about the planned protest.

Barker-Vormawor said it was clear a number of government officials were deeply involved in the menace and were therefore deliberately trying to halt the protest.

He said Ghanaians needed to "wake up" and speak truth to power for the sake of future generations who risk not having potable water and added it was the second time the group's attempt at demonstrating has been halted.

In the first instance, it was prevented from occupying the seat of government and restricted to the same 37 Military Hospital arena only to be dispersed by a heavy rain.

As of midday, the numbers had reduced to about half and the remaining seen in groups discussing national issues.

They temporarily blocked a portion of the traffic lights that lead to the hospital and burnt car tyres on the road.

A number of commuters especially those from the Legon-Madina stretch heading towards Accra were stranded because they could not go beyond 37.