#SayNoToGalamsey Demo: We're prepared to defy any unconstitutional order by police – Barker-Vormawor

A leading member of the #FixtheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has served notice to the Ghana Police Service that any unconstitutional order from it (the police) on the Democratic Hub’s planned #SayNoToGalamsey demonstration would be defied.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews on Friday, September 20, 2024, Barker-Vormawor, indicated that the police have no power to stop the #SayNoToGalamsey demonstration, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.

He added that the organisers of the demonstration would disregard any illegal order by the police and face the consequences because of the way illegal mining (galamsey) is destroying the country.

“There have been consistent conflicting messages from the Ghana Police Service, that we ourselves are a bit confused. Unfortunately, the police are not speaking directly to us. A lot of the things we are finding out are from the media. And so, we wrote a letter to them requesting an urgent meeting.

“The notice for the demonstration was sent as far back as July, about three weeks ago, and to find out online that the police have apparently or claimed to have received an order for an injunction is a big problem. But most importantly, this is where we need a bit of clarity. We saw online that there was an injunction order that they claimed to have received, which in essence was banning Democracy Hub in perpetuity from ever organising the demonstration in Ghana. Because it says that you are not allowed to demonstrate around the advertised date or any other day for that matter," he said.

Barker-Vormawor continued that “The police then issued a statement saying that they are ready to support the demonstration and they don’t have any problem with that. So, we understood that it is the demonstration on the 10th that was notified to them and that they themselves were working away from the injunction order, which every lawyer would advise you that being obtained ex parte was unconstitutional so it is null and void."

He also added that “Any ex parte injunction which is obtained violates the law in the constitution and by law is null and void. In any event, Democracy Hub has made its intentions clear that the urgency of the environmental crisis means that they are prepared to defy any unconstitutional order in this regard. We expect, obviously, that after this the police might attempt to bring contempt charges and the matter then can be argued and brought before the Supreme Court as to whether or not that is the right provision of law.”

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has refuted assertions that it has stopped the #SayNoToGalamsey demonstration.

It assured the public that sufficient measures have been put in place to maintain law and order as well as ensure peace and security for the planned demonstration by the Democracy Hub Group, slated for 21st to 23rd September 2024.

In a terse press statement issued on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, the police said, "The Ghana Police Service will provide further details on the security measures for the planned demonstration tomorrow, Thursday, 19th September 2024."

The police indicated that the only issue it has with the demonstration is its venue, the Revolutionary Square across Liberation Road, opposite the Jubilee House – the seat of government.

It indicated that the demonstration cannot be held at the Revolutionary Square for security reasons.

BAI/AE

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