In case you have not heard, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo broke his silence on the subject of the arrested protesters from a recent 3-day protest.

The protest, dubbed #ReOccupyJulorbiHouse and #StopGalamsey was aimed at mounting pressure on the government to end all activities of illegal mining (galamsey) that have affected many water bodies and destroyed forest covers across the country.

During the protest, some of the protesters were picked up by the police and charged with various offenses.

They were eventually remanded in police and prison custody for a period of two weeks and are expected back in court on October 8, 2024.

With many calling on him to comment on the ongoing matter, President Nana Akufo-Addo granted an interview to France 24 and explained that he had no hand in the arrests.

He also stated that the court and the police are handling issues with the protesters without any political meddling to stifle dissent.

"I'm not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts in Ghana are independent institutions and they have been all through this period of the fourth republic. People misconduct themselves and they're brought before court. It's for the court to deal with them. It has nothing to do with politics or the executive.

"Their behavior is what lands them in problems with the police and with the courts. It's not the protest. How can the president, who himself's political career was aided by leading protests, have problems with protests? I don't have problems with protests. And nothing is done in Ghana to prevent people from airing their views on anything," Akufo-Addo said.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also spoke about issues to do with the sub-region and how three states had decided to separate and form the Alliance of Sahel States.

Watch the full interview below:



AE