A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has issued a strong condemnation of the Ghanaian police’s handling of peaceful protesters over the weekend, citing incidents of manhandling, arbitrary arrests, and detention without disclosure of location. The CSOs describe these acts as serious violations of human rights, warning that Ghana’s democratic reputation is in jeopardy if such infringements persist. The protests, which called for government accountability, were sparked by growing discontent over economic hardships, rampant corruption, and the unchecked destruction of the environment through illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey.
The statement, endorsed by over 30 organizations, highlights Ghana’s alarming decline in civic space, a deterioration accentuated by the recent downgrading of Ghana’s status to “Obstructed” by the Civicus ‘People Power Under Attack’ report.
The CSOs further reference the World Press Freedom Index and Afrobarometer findings, both of which point to rising concerns over the erosion of civil liberties. The organizations called for the immediate release of unlawfully detained protesters and demanded that the government uphold its constitutional obligations to protect the right to peaceful assembly and free expression.
Ghana’s Constitution, in Article 21, guarantees citizens the right to protest peacefully, and the CSOs have emphasized that this fundamental freedom cannot be compromised. While acknowledging that breaches of the law may require arrests, the groups assert that such actions must be carried out lawfully, with full respect for the rights of detainees, including their right to bail. They urge the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to publicly address the allegations of human rights abuses and push for an independent investigation into the police response to the weekend’s protests.
The CSOs stress the urgency of restoring confidence in Ghana’s dedication to upholding human rights, especially as the nation approaches critical elections in the coming weeks. They urge President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government to act swiftly to repair the damage caused by these incidents and reaffirm the state’s dedication to democracy and justice. Failure to do so, they warn, risks further eroding the country’s democratic values.
The groups insist that the courts, as key defenders of Ghana’s democratic order, must also rise to the occasion by ensuring the rights of citizens are upheld according to the Constitution. The CSOs view the judiciary’s role as crucial in maintaining checks on the abuse of power and ensuring that justice is served for those whose rights have been trampled.
This joint statement was endorsed by prominent organizations such as the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), STAR Ghana Foundation, the Civic Space Resource Hub, and over 30 other national and regional bodies dedicated to human rights, governance, and environmental protection.
The CSOs are calling for an immediate reversal of these worrying trends and an urgent commitment from the government to preserve Ghana’s democratic integrity.
