A former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has described the incidents that occurred during the #OccupyJulorbiHouse and #StopGalamsey protests organised by the Democracy Hub as acts of lunacy.
The 3-day protest which began on September 21, 2024, was aimed at urging the government to take decisive action against illegal mining.
Speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Kwamena Duncan expressed disgust over the acts of lawlessness displayed by some protesters who resorted to blocking roads to play football and burn party paraphernalia.
“The people decide to embark on a demonstration and display an act of lunacy and we are being told to analyse the main reason behind their protest. My goodness! If we decide to rule the country in a certain manner because some people have a certain cause so they embark on a demonstration and use it as a means to become lawless.
“You decide to break down and destroy party billboards and also block roads with logs, stones just to inconvenience people and obstruct traffic and the proposition is that we should not be discussing this matter but rather focus on why they went to the street,” he said.
According to him, these acts can lead the country down a path of destruction; therefore, the law must deal with the arrested individuals to serve as a deterrent to others and to avoid setting dangerous precedents for future generations.
Kwamena Duncan further commended the police for their professionalism despite the provocations from the protesters.
“…What drove them to the street is what we saw and that is the conduct. What sense is there in taking away keys from police van and throwing them away when you are demonstrating? If others decide to embark on same path to do what they please, what will become of us?
“The steps taken by the police to arrest these lawless young people, the law must go through the full hall and deal with them because if we don’t do that, these are the things that will precipitate this country onto the path of disorder…,” he added.
Meanwhile, the court has remanded 28 of the protesters into police custody and the remaining 11 into prison custody for two weeks for engaging in various forms of lawless acts.
MAG/ ADG