The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is calling for the immediate observance of fair and due process for all Democracy Hub detainees and strict adherence to the rule of law.
Thirty-nine (39) participants from the Democracy Hub protestors were remanded into custody on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
A bench warrant was issued for one protester who was previously released on police inquiry bail but failed to appear in court, despite being aware of the proceedings, according to the prosecution.
This brings the total number of individuals brought to court to 40. Twenty-eight (28) were remanded into police custody, while eleven (11) others are in prison custody for two weeks.
CDD-Ghana, in a statement issued on Thursday, condemned the “unnecessary manhandling and brutality of citizens exercising their civic and political rights to protest. The refusal by the police to release the complete list of arrested individuals. The ongoing denial of access to legal counsel for detainees, in direct violation of Article 14(2) of the 1992 Constitution, underscores the situation’s urgency.”
“The failure to notify lawyers of the detained individuals before their arraignment before the Circuit Court. The unlawful transfer of detainees from police cells to prison without court approval. The prolonged detention of protesters beyond 48 hours without being brought before a competent court violates Article 14(3) of the 1992 Constitution. The continued denial of access for family members to meet with their detained relatives.”
CDD-Ghana indicated that these actions violated the detainees’ fundamental human rights and undermined the rule of law in Ghana’s constitutional democracy.
“Such misconduct erodes public trust in our legal system and public institutions,” it added.
