Ghana Police Arrest 42 Persons During Protests Over Economic Hardship
Ghanaian police have arrested 42 demonstrators in Accra following clashes during protests against economic hardship and the government’s management of illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey.”
The demonstrations, organized by the group Democracy Hub, began on Friday as the protesters, primarily young individuals, expressed their frustrations by marching through the city, chanting patriotic songs, and displaying placards highlighting concerns over environmental destruction and economic mismanagement.
According to police, the 42 arrests occurred on Sunday, as demonstrators allegedly assembled unlawfully and engaged in confrontations with law enforcement officers.
In addition to the arrests, police have launched a manhunt for protest leaders, including well-known lawyer and activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, who is accused of evading arrest.
Barker-Vormawor responded by asserting that the police’s claims are unfounded, stating that he has maintained communication with police officials regarding his whereabouts.
The protests come as Ghana approaches a presidential election in December, with economic issues at the forefront of the campaign. The election pits the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, against former President John Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Ghana’s economy is gradually recovering from a severe financial crisis that peaked in 2022, with inflation decreasing from a high of 54 percent to 20.4 percent last month, aided by a $3-billion relief package from the International Monetary Fund.
