How can a president whose career was aided by protests have issues with protest? - Akufo-Addo to critics

In response to allegations that he is behind the arrest and detention of Democracy Hub protestors, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has clarified that he cannot arrest the very people who contributed to his rise to power.

During an interview with France24 TV, the president explained that the protestors were detained due to actions that threatened the peace of the country, not because of their demonstration.

He emphasized that protests played a significant role in his political journey, and he would never seek to harm those exercising their right to protest.

“How can a president whose political career was aided by leading protestors have problems with protests? I don’t have problems with protests, and nothing is done in Ghana to prevent people from airing their views,” Akufo-Addo said.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo distanced himself from the arrest of 53 individuals during the recent #SayNoToGalamsey protest, stressing that the arrests were made by the Ghana Police Service due to illegal activities.

“I’m not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts in Ghana are independent institutions, and they have been throughout the Fourth Republic. People who misconduct themselves are brought before the court, and it is the court that deals with them. It has nothing to do with politics or the executive.”

He further reiterated, “It’s their behaviour that gets them in trouble with the police and the courts, not the protest itself. How can the president, whose political career was aided by leading protests, have problems with protests? I don’t. And nothing is done in Ghana to stop people from expressing their views on anything.”

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President Nana Akufo-Addo has disassociated himself from the recent detainment of peaceful protesters in Ghana, emphasizing the independence of the judiciary.

In an interview with @FRANCE24, he mentioned, "When people misconduct themselves, it's for the court to deal with them,… pic.twitter.com/dm9fZxtQIo

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) October 6, 2024

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