The High Court in Accra has granted bail to nine (9) members of the Democracy Hub protest.
Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame, who presided over the case, set the bail at GH¢70,000 for each individual, requiring two sureties.
As part of the bail conditions, the accused must report to the police once a week and deposit their national IDs (Ghana cards) with the court registry.
This decision came after an appeal that overturned an earlier ruling by the circuit court, which had denied them bail.
The nine individuals are among 53 charged with unlawful assembly, unlawful damage, assaulting a public officer, and offensive conduct likely to breach the peace, stemming from their alleged involvement in disturbances during a protest against illegal mining (galamsey).
Despite opposition from the state, the court accepted the defence’s bail application.
The individuals granted bail include outspoken socialite Ama Governor, Emmanuel Gyan, Emmanuel Kwabena Addo, Ziblim Yakubu, Oheneba Prempeh, Philip Owusu Kobina, Desmond Akisbik, Von Coffie, and Sadik Yakubu.
Meanwhile, an appeal regarding a similar bail denial for Oliver Barker Vormawor, Felicity Nelson, and 10 others is currently under review.
The release of the nine follows protests in Ghana and later in the UK, where demonstrators demanded the release of the detained protesters.
These protests were sparked by calls for the government to take immediate action against the galamsey menace, which has caused extensive destruction of forest reserves and water bodies, particularly in central and southern Ghana.
The demonstrations saw participation from prominent individuals and civil society organisations, who criticised the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General for suppressing citizens’ freedoms.
However, President Nana Akufo-Addo, in an interview with the international media outlet France 24, stated that he is not responsible for the detention of the protesters, attributing their arrest to their misconduct.
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