Fifty-one activists from the Democracy Hub remain in police custody despite being granted bail by the High Courts of Accra.
This is according to a press release issued by the group on October 8, 2024.
The activists were arrested during the #StopGalamseyNow and #ReOccupy Julorbi House protests in late September, and their continued detention has sparked outrage.
The Democracy Hub criticized the procedural delays in the release of the activists, accusing state authorities of intentional inefficiency.
52 of them were granted bail between yesterday and today. However, the organizers say, “Despite the court granting bail in the morning, the order wasn’t even sent to the police until 2 PM the following day.”
They are accusing the state of deliberate foot-dragging.
The group expressed concern that the verification of sureties, a standard procedure required for bail release, has not yet been completed.
“There has been no action taken on the verification, which further extends the detention of these brave citizens,” the statement said.
Moreover, the delay has been exacerbated by the absence of key personnel responsible for signing release forms.
“The officers closed their offices at 4 PM, and to make matters worse, those responsible for signing the bail bonds won’t even be working tomorrow, which means our comrades may not see freedom until next week,” the group lamented.
In addition to the administrative hurdles, the Democracy Hub condemned intrusive searches conducted at the homes of individuals standing as sureties for the activists.
“These unwarranted and intimidating searches are designed to harass and intimidate those standing in support of our cause,” the statement read.
As of 6 PM on October 8, all 51 activists remain in police custody. The Democracy Hub has called for immediate action to rectify what it describes as “systemic injustice” and urged authorities to uphold the activists’ legal rights.
“We are witnessing an alarming trend of governmental manipulation aimed at frustrating citizens who dare to exercise their civic rights,” the group said, calling on the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the fight against illegal mining.
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah says the government will not condone any efforts by investigators to frustrate the process of granting or executing bail for accused individuals.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight, the Deputy Attorney General explained that “When a court grants bail, it is the duty of the investigator to ensure that the sureties are properly identified, and the accused person’s place of abode is verified.”
However, he stressed that any deliberate attempt by investigators to hinder or delay this process would not be tolerated.
“We will not condone any attempt by investigators to frustrate accused persons from having their bail granted or executed,” the Deputy AG stated.
However, the Deputy AG also noted that investigators have a responsibility to ensure that those standing as sureties for the accused are properly identified and traceable, adding that “in the event that the accused person absconds, investigators should be able to locate the sureties and bring them to court.”