Why didn't you speak up when the youth protesters were misbehaving? - Mahama slammed

The Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has taken a swipe at former President and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, over his call for the release of the Democracy Hub protesters.

The former President labeled the arrest and prosecution of these protesters as "high-handed" and found their treatment harsh.

“We must balance our need to maintain law and order with protecting the rights and freedoms of our citizens. Remanding Democracy Hub demonstrators for two weeks is high-handed and an abuse of their rights,” Mahama posted on his Facebook wall.

He further wrote, “The youth of Ghana have a right to engage in manifestations to protect their future, especially in respect of key issues like the destruction of the environment through illegal mining. Draconian judicial decisions such as this won’t stop them from speaking out. The authorities must request the judge to review the remand decision and grant them bail immediately."

Fatimatu Abubakar, in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', expressed utter disappointment in the former President.

"I've seen a statement by former President Mahama and I was so shocked," she lamented, adding, "He said the arrest and the remand are high-handed, so he had all this wisdom but allowed us to be beaten and even some people severely injured, with two men ending up dead when we went on protest under his regime."

Mincing no words, the Minister condemned the unlawful acts of the protesters leading to their remand.

"I believe what the protesters did was wrong. It was very bad and I was surprised that a lot of people were quiet. They only found their voices after the reaction of the police and the decision to prosecute, but when all these things (by the protesters) were happening, they were looking the other way."