Group lauds Madina MP for suing Ghana Police over alleged abuse of Democracy Hub protesters
Youth for Human Rights Africa (YoHRA) has commended the Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, for initiating legal action against the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney General on behalf of 32 protesters from the Democracy Hub who were allegedly subjected to human rights violations during a recent demonstration.
The protesters, who were demonstrating against the harmful effects of illegal small-scale mining (galamsey), were reportedly met with forceful resistance from law enforcement officers, prompting widespread criticism of the police’s actions. In response, Sosu, a well-known human rights lawyer, has filed a lawsuit to address what he calls a breach of the fundamental rights of the demonstrators.
In a statement released on October 3, YoHRA expressed strong support for Sosu’s legal challenge, stressing the need to uphold human rights and democratic values. “It is important that we use all democratic and lawful means to protect the human rights of all citizens, and we entreat the courts to uphold the principles of the rule of law in the exercise of their judicial authority,” the statement read in part.
The group further condemned the conduct of the Ghana Police, describing their actions as a violation of the protesters’ constitutional rights. “The conduct of the Ghana Police is an affront to the human rights of citizens guaranteed in the 1992 constitution of Ghana,” YoHRA stated. The group emphasized that the right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in Article 21(1)(d) of the Constitution and called on the police to respect the legal protections provided to all demonstrators.
YoHRA also highlighted the importance of protecting individuals from arbitrary arrest and detention, referencing Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“We call on the Ghana Police Service to respect the right to peaceful assembly, the right to legal counsel, and fair treatment of all protesters,” YoHRA stated, adding that the principles of the rule of law must be upheld in a democracy.
The organization used the opportunity to encourage citizens to continue exercising their democratic rights within the bounds of the law, while also urging the authorities to refrain from any actions that would hinder those rights. “YoHRA entreats all citizens to exercise their democratic rights to demonstrate within the confines of the law devoid of unlawful conduct,” the statement noted.
