“People being arrested without bail for protesting is alarming.” — Manifest.
Award-winning rapper M.anifest from Ghana has voiced concern over police depriving several anti-galamsey demonstrators who were taken into custody in Accra of their bail.
On October 3, M.anifest remarked on social media that it was “very alarming” that people could be detained without bond only “for exercising your right to protest.”
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“Even more troubling is your fellow Ghanaians agreeing with this apparent punitive tactic under the cover of ‘peace & order.’ “Be your own people… until one day you reach them. #FreeTheCitizens,” the rapper said on the microblogging app using his verified handle, X.
His remarks follow the September 21 arrests of about fifty protestors in response to Democracy Hub-organised demonstrations near the capital’s 37 Military Hospital.
According to a police complaint, some had burnt car tyres and barricaded major routes with trucks, causing traffic disruptions for hours.
Some of the demonstrators allegedly attacked police by throwing barriers and breaking into a police car to grab ignition keys when the cops were interacting with them to restore traffic.
As a result, they were detained and charged in court.
However, the fact that they are being denied bail is drawing criticism, as many people, including well-known civil society organizations, are appealing for their release.
