President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said he does not have any problem with citizens who decide to engage in protests.
Speaking to France24 on Friday (4 October), President Akufo-Addo highlighted peaceful protest as a core pillar of democracy.
He said, “I am not responsible for jailing people in Ghana. The courts in Ghana are independent institutions and they have been so through the Fourth Republic.”
On the current arrested of some protesters belonging to the Democracy Hub group, President Akufo-Addo said, “People misconduct themselves and are brought before the court it is for the court, it is for the court to deal with them, it has nothing to do with the executive, and their behaviour is what landed them in trouble with the police and the court.”
“How can a president whose 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,” the president said.
President Akufo-Addo also called for peaceful demonstrations and urged protesters to work with the relevant authorities to find sustainable solutions to the galamsey menace.